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Mayor Nicastro

"Focused on Our Future"

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Subject Regarding Affordable Housing

If you are not from Mt Olive in Morris County, Please Change the town and county.
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Dear [Persons Name]

As a resident of Mount Olive Township in Morris County, I am writing to respectfully ask our state leaders to meaningfully modify the Mount Laurel Doctrine and its current affordable housing obligations.
While the intent behind this doctrine is understandable and rooted in fairness, the impact on western New Jersey communities has become increasingly challenging. Towns like Mount Olive are being forced to develop additional housing and consume remaining open space and environmentally constrained land in order to meet mandated obligations. Meanwhile, many municipalities to the east have the infrastructure, transportation systems, job availability, and development capacity better suited for higher-density housing.
This imbalance places a significant strain on our local resources, environment, and quality of life. We fully recognize the importance of providing affordable housing opportunities , but we ask that the policy be reconsidered or adjusted so that future obligations can be shared more equitably between suburban and urban . Municipalities in the eastern portion of the state — where there is greater infrastructure and growth opportunity — should play a larger role in meeting these requirements.
I strongly believe that builders who profit from these projects should be required to pay for the cost of improving our infrastructure including roads, utilities, and public services and, if necessary, contribute to the expansion of our school systems to accommodate the additional students generated by their developments. These impacts are a direct consequence of their building plans, and the financial responsibility should not fall on taxpayers or the community at large.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to ensuring that state policies remain fair, practical, and sustainable for all New Jersey communities.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
Resident, Mount Olive Township
 
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Subject: Regarding Opposing S-4736

Below is what the bill states:

 

S-4736 preempts local zoning and planning regulations and requires a municipal planning board to permit the conversion or partial conversion of an eligible property, as defined in the bill, into an inclusionary development, for which a certain percentage of the units are reserved as very low-, low-, or moderate-income housing (affordable housing).
The conversion of an eligible property into an inclusionary development with affordable housing would be a permitted use and would not require a use variance, and would be subject to certain zoning requirements and the following affordability constraints: 

  • At least 20% of the units are required to be reserved as very-low, low-, or moderate-income housing; 

  • Of the income-restricted units, at least 50% within each bedroom distribution are required to be low-income units, and at least 13% of the low-income units as very-low-income units; and 

  • The income-restricted units are required to comply with the State’s Uniform Housing Affordability Controls. 

The bill requires a municipal planning board to approve an application to repurpose or redevelop an eligible property into an inclusionary development with affordable housing, regardless of the eligible property’s location in the municipality, if the project complies with applicable zoning requirements, as described in the bill.  The bill specifies certain permitted density and height criteria. 


 
If you are not from Mt Olive in Morris County, Please Change the town and county.
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Dear [Persons Name]

I am writing to express my concern and opposition to Senate Bill No. 4736, which would expand the ability of religious and nonprofit organizations to convert certain properties into inclusionary developments with affordable housing.
As a resident, I am deeply concerned that this bill will open the door to even more development in areas already overburdened due to the strict housing mandates imposed on my township by the state. Additionally, this legislation bypasses important local laws and would allow nonprofits and religious organizations to build on properties that may not align with the township’s plans or best interests.
I respectfully urge you to vote NO on Bill S-4736 and allow municipalities to make the decisions they believe are best for their residents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Town]
[Your County]