Marlboro commits funds for affordable housing

BY JACK MURTHA Staff Writer

MARLBORO — The adoption of three ordinances by the Township Council will safeguard nearly $7.2 million of Marlboro’s affordable housing trust fund.

A law that was enacted in 2008 gave New Jersey municipalities four years to spend the money that was sitting in their affordable housing trust fund. State officials have said they will enforce a July deadline to collect any unspent money.

Marlboro’s $13 million affordable housing trust fund is the largest in the state.

The money was paid into the trust fund over the last 25 years as developers built homes in Marlboro — primarily market rate units — with an affordable housing fee attached to the construction of each home.

With the state’s collection date approaching, the council voted to commit money to several affordable housing initiatives at the May 17 meeting.

One ordinance sets aside $5.28 million for the acquisition of the Marlboro Motor Lodge parcel, Route 9 south.

The property is expected to yield 92 rental units for senior citizens, priced in accordance with state affordable housing guidelines, according to the ordinance. Officials hope to receive 91 credits from the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) for the project.

Another $1.46 million will be used to refurbish existing homes in Marlboro, both rentals and those occupied by the owner, which are substandard and inhabited by people who have a low or moderate income. State officials have determined that Marlboro has 45 homes that qualify for the rehabilitation program.

Business Administrator Jonathan Capp noted that the figure is an estimate based on a report. Marlboro residents who wish to participate in the home rehabilitation program will have to file an application to determine if they meet the qualifications, Capp said.

About six units have already undergone the rehabilitation process, he added.

A final ordinance would commit $424,000 to rebuild and replace leach fields, which decontaminate sewage from septic tanks, at the Hamilton Park mobile home community. The neighborhood is considered to be a source of affordable housing in Marlboro.

Resident Dan Matarese said he believes many of the mobile homes in Hamilton Park are “falling apart.” He said the council could better spend the trust fund money by relocating residents of the mobile home park to other affordable housing units in town.

Marlboro has an obligation to cover the improvements to the leach fields, Capp said.

Township Attorney Louis Rainone noted that if the township did not take care of the matter, it would be considered a public hazard.

In addition to the most recent moves, the council dedicated $1.75 million to another affordable housing project earlier this year. About $4 million remains in Marlboro’s affordable housing trust fund.

The township has yet to enter into any contracts for the aforementioned upgrades, Capp said.

“We are setting up capital projects for these purposes. We will have to come forward at some point in order to actually spend the money on those projects,” he said.