The proposed Aberdeen Forge/Mirror Lake developments are supposed to satisfy the Aberdeen Township affordable housing problems but the development itself could cause even more problems for the town and residents under the new proposed round three affordable housing regulations that could be in effect in June.
Under these proposed new regulations, every development that has been constructed since January 2000 will add to a town’s affordable housing requirement at a rate of 10 new units requiring one affordable unit to be built.
The Aberdeen Forge/Mirror Lake development of 700-plus units alone will add an additional 70 units of affordable housing that would have to be provided to achieve protection from a "builders remedy suit." Other developments constructed since the year 2000 include Jeffersons, Orchids and Aspen Way.
Unlike some towns that are looking at the impact of the impending regulations, Aberdeen Township seems to take the head in sand approach, which is why they are still struggling with round one obligations from back in the 1980s, let alone round two while other townships like Upper Freehold ask their experts for guidance to prevent developers using a town’s lack of an affordable housing plan to coerce them into allowing development.
When you look at the size of the Aberdeen Forge/Mirror Lake project and issues with eminent domain and the ecological travesty it would create, it is hard to imagine how this much upheaval will be to provide 60 units of affordable housing, and leaves me wondering what Aberdeen Township would come up with next having to build at least 70 more units after destroying the last significant open space left in the township.
Paul Allen
Matawan