North Caldwell Reaches Settlement After Affordable Housing Challenge

CALDWELLS, NJ — North Caldwell has reached a settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center after a challenge involving the borough’s affordable housing obligations.

Last year, state officials released the affordable housing quotas that New Jersey towns will have to meet over the next decade, including North Caldwell.

Towns and cities don’t have to create the housing themselves, but must ensure that the threshold is met – often by requiring affordable housing units as part of local real estate development projects.

>> READ MORE: NJ Issues New Affordable Housing Quotas For The Caldwells

Like other towns, North Caldwell was required to submit a blueprint to the state in June, outlining how it plans to meet its new quota. View the borough’s plan here.

In August, the Fair Share Housing Center, a nonprofit advocacy group that “fights for housing justice in New Jersey,” challenged North Caldwell’s plan – kicking off several mediation sessions.

Earlier this month, North Caldwell officials announced that an agreement has been reached, allowing the borough to move forward.

Business administrator Glenn Domenick issued a memo to the mayor and council on Dec. 12 with details about the settlement, including two key components:

THIRD ROUND – “The Borough has a Prior Round (1987-1999) obligation of 63, a Third Round (1999-2025) obligation of 360, and a Fourth Round (2025-2035) obligation of 118. Due to the lack of developable land in the Borough, the Borough adjusted its Prior Round and Third Round obligations through a vacant land adjustment. This resulted in the Borough having a Prior Round and Third Round Realistic Development Potential (“RDP”) of 64. The Borough's RDP was then increased to 118 due to the development of the Green Brook Country Club site. The Borough will address that obligation through the already constructed RPM project and an overlay zone over the Green Brook Golf Course.”

FOURTH ROUND – “As to the Fourth Round, the Borough adjusted its Fourth-Round obligation to an RDP of 0. As part of settlement negotiations with FSHC, the Borough agreed to increase its RDP to 5 that will be satisfied with an existing group home and one bonus credit. The remainder of the Borough's obligation is known as the unmet need. To satisfy its remaining Fourth Round unmet need of 113, the Borough will adjust the densities and affordable housing set-asides in the Borough's two already existing overlay zones on Fairfield Road and Bloomfield Avenue, utilize 11 leftover units from the completed RPM project, utilize the one unit from the approved mixed-use inclusionary development located in the Bloomfield Avenue overlay zone, and create an additional group home during the Fourth Round. Moving forward the Borough will need to meet a deadline of March 15, 2026 to submit additional supporting documents, so that the Borough can ultimately receive a Fourth Round Compliance Certification from the Court. The Compliance Certification will protect the Borough's immunity from Mount Laurel lawsuits until July 1, 2035.”

View the full memo online here.

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