Hopewell Borough planners adopt housing scheme

Public hearing slated Dec. 6

By Aleen Crispino
   The Hopewell Borough Planning Board has proposed that three affordable apartments be added and another five units be rehabilitated for low- and moderate-income households during the next eight years, in the 2006 Housing Plan adopted at the board’s Nov. 1 meeting.
   In updating the borough’s 2000 Housing Plan to comply with the third round of requirements issued by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) in December 2004, the board requests that COAH agree to eliminate five of 10 accessory apartments from its requirements in return for the rehabilitation of five units of housing. COAH had not required the borough to provide rehabilitated units in this round, which takes effect on Dec. 6, 2006 and extends until Dec. 6, 2014, but had required the provision of 10 accessory apartments as part of an unmet obligation from previous rounds, said Borough Planner Carl Lindbloom on Monday.
   "Accessory apartments" refers to rental units occupied by low- or moderate-income households as certified by COAH, said Mr. Lindbloom.
   The first borough housing plan was adopted by the Planning Board in July 1988 and certified by COAH in November 1990. At that time the "fair share" of affordable housing assigned to the borough was zero, according to the updated plan.
   In 1993, COAH released its "second round" (1993-1999) fair share obligations for all municipalities in the state and assigned 37 housing units to the borough. The borough’s 2000 Housing Plan, certified by COAH in December 2000, reassessed the borough’s fair share contribution as 27 units – which included 10 accessory apartments, eight rehabilitated units, and nine units under a regional contribution agreement.
   A regional contribution agreement (RCA) allows a municipality to transfer up to 50 percent of its affordable housing unit requirement to a nearby municipality by mutual contractual agreement, also involving a transfer of money to the municipality providing the housing.
   In November 2001, nine RCA units were transferred to Trenton, and in May 2000, the eight rehabilitated affordable units in Hopewell Borough were completed, according to the updated plan. This leaves 10 accessory apartments as the borough’s remaining obligation — which the board proposes to reduce to five accessory apartments and five rehabilitated units.
   The Master Plan Subcommittee makes the following recommendations to the borough in its 2006 Housing Plan: to certify the income eligibility of tenants of two apartments already authorized by COAH; to add three or more additional accessory apartment units; to construct or renovate new units; to encourage landlords to register apartments for COAH, and to rehabilitate five new units utilizing funds received by the borough from the sale of the previous COAH-authorized rehabilitated units, as they become available.
   After certifying the tenants of the two existing apartments, the borough expects the third of the five accessory apartments to be provided upon completion of a new two-story building at 8-10 Seminary Ave., said Mr. Lindbloom. The Planning Board approved a site plan on March 1 submitted by property owner Clark Reed, managing member of Last Exit LLC, to demolish an unoccupied one-story building at the site and replace it with a two-story commercial and residential structure, which will house two first-floor commercial spaces and a second-floor, two-bedroom, affordable apartment.
   The housing plan is one element of the borough’s 2006 Master Plan, prepared by the Master Plan Subcommittee of the Planning Board and presented to the board on Nov. 1.
   The board considered the housing and fair share plans ahead of the rest of the 2006 Master Plan to allow time for a Borough Council vote in December on whether to endorse the plans, and for submission of the plans to COAH by the Dec. 6 deadline.
   "I would like to thank the subcommittee for your time and your hard work," said Planning Board Chairman Bob Donaldson on Nov. 1, thanking board members Paul Buda, Michele Hovan, Andrew Lea, Brad Lyon, Peter Macholdt and Joseph Zito, as well as Mr. Lindbloom and Borough Engineer Dennis O’Neal.
   The 2006 Master Plan is an update of the 1997 Master Plan, which received a re-examination in 2004. The remainder of the 2006 Master Plan, with sections on land use, transportation, sidewalks, community facilities, historic preservation, visual design, utilities, recycling, open space, recreation, economic development and stormwater management, will receive a public hearing, followed by a vote by the board, at the next Planning Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6.
   A copy of the proposed 2006 Master Plan Update is available at the Borough Administrator/Clerk’s office in the Municipal Building.
   IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board adopted a resolution approving a minor subdivision, lot line change and bulk variances for Betty Hoge and 135 West Broad, LLC, owners of 135 and 153 W. Broad St.
   Ms. Hoge raises sheep at 153 W. Broad St., known locally as Hoge Farm, which has a house and barn on the property. The house at 135 W. Broad St. has been on the market for almost a year, said realtor Ray Disch of R.E. Disch Real Estate, 10 E. Broad St., but has not sold due to its large size and how this relates to the recent property tax revaluation and the need for increased maintenance.
   Before the subdivision, 135 W. Broad St. measured 1.59 acres, and Hoge Farm measured 13.48 acres, according to the application submitted to the borough. The subdivision and lot line change will transfer approximately .75 acres from 135 W. Broad St. to 153 W. Broad St., requiring variances from borough ordinances governing front and side yard setbacks.
   The board also adopted a resolution to approve a site plan submitted by Schuyler (Sky) Morehouse of 1 E. Prospect St., founder and president of Morehouse Engineering, paving the way for renovations to the former J.B. Hill and Sons property at 43 Railroad Place, which he recently purchased from Joseph Hill.
   Mr. Morehouse, who is a Hopewell Borough councilman, plans to relocate his engineering office from 83 Princeton Ave. to the main building on the historic site, providing eight on-site parking spaces and keeping some land for a community garden.