Lambertville OKs COAH obligations

The state deadline was Tuesday for the third round of regulations.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — Under new state guidelines, Lambertville will be responsible for 24 units of low- or moderate-income housing and 27 rehabilitated units in the next 10 years.
   But, because of credits earned for housing already built or rehabilitated, the city’s actual obligation is far lower.
   Every municipality is required to provide affordable housing for people with low and moderate incomes. The deadline Tuesday was for the third round of regulations, which are based on a "build as you grow" philosophy, based on actual growth.
   Lambertville is close to being built out, according to Planning Board Chairman Timothy Korzun. The largest remaining lot is Academy Hill, which will not see construction in the near future because of "significant environmental problems" stemming from a landfill on the property, Mr. Korzun said.
   The City Council agreed to meet the guidelines Monday, following the Planning Board’s approval earlier this month.
   The city’s agreement was scheduled to be hand-delivered to the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing by the state’s deadline Tuesday.
   Also Monday, a new growth share ordinance was passed in relation to the new COAH guidelines. The ordinance agrees that for every eight units constructed, the city must provide one unit of affordable housing. Also, for every 25 jobs created, one affordable housing unit must be provided.
   The city estimates about $415,000 in revenue from developers will pay for the construction, rehabilitation and professionals’ fees. Should the city experience a shortfall in this fund, the city will be responsible for the difference.
   "Every municipality has to develop their own Fair Share Plan," Mayor David Del Vecchio said. "If you don’t provide it, you are vulnerable to litigation" from developers.
   Over the past dozen years, the city has rehabilitated about 72 homes, and the work done allowed the city always to meet its COAH obligation, according to Mayor Del Vecchio.
   The first round of COAH regulations covered the period from 1987 to 1993. The second round covered the period from 1993 to 1999. The third-round regulations were adopted in December 2004 and extend until December 2014.