State Sets Quota for Seaside Heights Affordable Housing Units Through 2035

The demolition of Bobber’s Restaurant, Seaside Heights, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

As municipalities across New Jersey struggle with decisions on how to meet state-imposed affordable housing quotas, Seaside Heights officials believe they are in a good position to be able to provide what is determined to be their “fair share” of housing, as determined by the legislature.

The legislature recently approved what is commonly referred to as “round four” of the state’s affordable housing law, part of the “Mt. Laurel doctrine” that came in place following a 1975 case decided by the state Supreme Court. The judicial decision, and the laws that followed, require towns to utilize open land or the redevelopment of existing space to provide housing units designated for low-income residents. There have been three “rounds” of quotas set in the past, with the fourth mandating new income-based housing be provided between 2025 and 2035.

Borough Attorney Robin La Bue said the state has ordered Seaside Heights to provide 20 units for rehabilitation and 36 new affordable housing units during the ten-year period. The rehabilitation element requires the borough to provide funds for “current existing housing occupied by low and moderate income families that need to be brought up to code.” The 36 units refer to new units that must be built or converted into affordable designations, usually accomplished by developers setting aside units in new construction projects.

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La Bue, responding to a question from a resident at Wednesday’s borough council meeting, said the numbers promulgated by the state are those that will govern the “fair share” for the decade between July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2035. The quotas will not change based on the construction of new housing units, or a lack thereof, since they are already set.

Seaside Heights has been undergoing a building boom in recent years, with hotels, nightclubs and other structures being torn down in favor of modern townhomes and small planned communities.

“The number itself won’t be readjusted,” said La Bue. “What we can do is use some of those units for our plan. We will take into account existing projects that we have [pending] and then plan for the future. There are also certain things you a get a bonus credit for, like special needs housing, where you can get a one-for-one credit.”

Seaside Heights’ quota is far less than some other municipalities, which have been ordered to build thousands of units, prompting concern over stretching public services, increasing school attendance and affecting public safety. A wave of costly lawsuits from towns are expected over the next several years in objections to some of the quotas that have been set. But in Seaside Heights’ case, the number is comparatively low, and seemingly within the town’s reach.

“We have a consultant that was hired last year to help us with this, we’ve had meetings with Robin, and I feel we’re in a pretty good place with those numbers and the credits we think we can get credit for,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz.

The borough council on Wednesday passed a resolution establishing its “need” for affordable housing based on the state’s figures, avoiding a dispute with Trenton.