HOWELL – In accordance with a vastly growing population, many new residential homes have been approved for construction in Howell Township, including some areas with designated low income housing.
Every town in New Jersey must provide a certain portion of housing for low-to-moderate income based on a complex calculation. This was started after a lawsuit claimed that the town of Mount Laurel was intentionally keeping the poor from living there.
The Council On Affordable Housing (COAH) estimates the present and prospective need for low and moderate income housing. COAH was founded in 1985 as a result of the Mount Laurel lawsuit.
A presentation on COAH and the planned properties was made available to the public at a recent Town Council meeting.
Township Manager Joe Clark participated in the COAH presentation. (Screenshot by Liz Ciocher)
“In New Jersey, every municipality has a constitutional obligation to provide for its fair share of affordable housing,” said Andrew Bayer, the affordable housing and zoning board attorney for the town. “Howell has always aimed for compliance.”
COAH has ‘rounds’ that are to be complied with by all New Jersey municipalities, which go back to as early as 1987. The third and latest round is currently in motion, filled with new developments for Howell township.
Previous rounds included the development of the council’s requirements as well as adaptations to previously established laws and regulations. This third round is set to implement the previously developed laws with physical architectural developments.
The round is set to be completed throughout 2025 and currently has four projects in motion for Howell. Some projects are under construction, recently completed construction or are in the beginning phases of development. Officials discussed developments that are satisfying Howell’s obligation.
An example of a completed project is the Howell Family Apartments on West Farms Road. This complex has just recently completed construction with 72 affordable housing units available.
FP Howell is the name of another development under construction, located on Fort Plains Road and Sunnyside Road. Its design allows for 363 total units, 92 of those being affordable housing. According to Director of Community Development and Land Use Officer Matthew Howard, its construction is more than halfway complete.
Following behind Howell Family Apartments and FP Howell are two additional projects that have not begun physical development, but are taking the appropriate steps to do so.
Township officials discussed new housing developments at a recent Township Council meeting. (Screenshot by Liz Ciocher)
Quarry & Tyrpak, located on the corner of West Farms Road and Casino Road, has been granted planning board approval and is set to contain 404 total living units. In accordance of COAH mandates, 138 of the 404 will be considered affordable housing.
In a similar capacity, a project titled ‘Zaback’ off of Route 9 has also received planning board approval. It will present 360 total units to the public with 108 affordable options.
While there is no presently available date for when the apartments will be open for official public residency, the board assures the projects are being processed quickly and efficiently.
“We have been working on a lot of these projects since 2019,” said Howard. “The township has done everything in their power [to get this going].”
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