Ford Ave. site may be used

to meet COAH requirement

By tara petersen
Correspondent

Ford Ave. site may be used

to meet COAH requirement

By tara petersen

Correspondent

MILLTOWN — What is the "realistic development potential" of Milltown?

That is what Borough Planner Raymond Liotta has attempted to determine through a recent vacant land study allowed by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH.)

According to the newest draft of Milltown’s Amended Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan, the vacant land study revealed that rather than 64 new construction units as previously required by COAH, only 16 affordable housing units are needed through new construction. There is also a 43-unit obligation that is to be met through encouraging the rehabilitation of existing low- and moderate-income housing, but the borough is not seeking to reduce that number.

At Monday night’s agenda meeting, Liotta asked the Borough Council to petition COAH to certify the new housing plan.

Liotta said that the old numbers are based on 1990 census data and don’t take into account the condition of the vacant land available.

According to the plan, out of the nearly 32 acres studied, only one lot, totaling .86 acres, was recommended for the building of low- or moderate-income housing. The other lots were said to contain wetlands, have no access to roads or were recommended for preservation.

The fair share plan further indicates that the Ford Avenue redevelopment area may provide a potential opportunity to meet the new requirement of 16 units if the new housing plan is certified by COAH. The calculation of RDP assumes that 75 percent of the 19.5 acres along Ford Avenue will be used for housing, and uses a density of six units per acre.

The borough plans to redevelop the area along Ford Avenue that was once the site of Michelin Tire Co. Four separate builders proposed their ideas at a public meeting in May. All plans called for a mix of residential, retail and office space.

Liotta said that if only 16 units are required, most can "be satisfied by age-restricted housing" in the Ford Avenue area.

He also said later that the offering of low-percentage loans and grants to low-income residents will encourage people to rehabilitate their homes in order to meet the 43-unit rehabilitation obligation with COAH. The borough is seeking credit for eight units that have been rehabilitated since 1990.