Welcome to Toms River Township sign. (File Photo)
Toms River officials this week adopted an ordinance updating the township’s affordable housing regulations to comply with a judge’s order mandating 1,285 units must be built in town.
While the ordinance addresses land use and development language to comply with the court order, it does not change the existing zoning.
“We’re not rezoning any additional property,” said Township Administrator Paul Shives.
The court also ordered Toms River adopt an ordinance guaranteeing that in the unlikely event the township’s affordable housing trust fund is depleted, taxpayers must borrow to make up the shortfall, Shives said. The possible of that happening, he added, are remote.
Shives said the court order and the new ordinances will be in place until at least 2025. Most of the units required under the plan are in developments that are already approved for construction over. All of the units should be built within seven to 10 years, Shives said.
Township officials blasted the court order when it was handed down last year.
“The state’s misguided affordable housing policy has led to excessive development, which results in higher property taxes, infringement upon local control, overcrowded local schools and overstressed municipal services,” a statement from the mayor and council said.
At the same meeting this week, the council approved a developer’s agreement with Toms River LIHTC, L.L.C., a company that is planning to build a 50 unit affordable housing complex at 2140 Lakewood Road.
