Affordable Housing Numbers Adjusted For East Brunswick After Town Challenge

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has adjusted the number of affordable housing units allotted to the township, after officials challenged its methodology.

The Fair Share Housing Center has not challenged the current calculations.

According to East Brunswick, the initial methodology was flawed as it miscalculated the land available for building the units.

The township had registered its argument with the DCA who then had a look at the documents and conceded.

According to initial estimates, the state goal for East Brunswick was 314. It has now been adjusted to 265, which is a reduction of 15.8 percent.

By DCA’s calculation, the number of units given was based on an estimate that the Township has 175 acres of developable land at their disposal.

But according to the East Brunswick town planner, the land available is 44 acres, and the number of units calculated was 256.

“We are glad we got to clear this misunderstanding. East Brunswick has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to providing affordable housing and will continue to do so,” Mayor Brad Cohen said.

Meanwhile a prominent builders association has filed a lawsuit against 158 towns, including East Brunswick. The New Jersey Builders Association argues in the lawsuit that the towns must go beyond what their local officials say is possible and commit to building more affordable housing.

Cohen now hopes that the lawsuit is dismissed. “I hope that we prevail in this as well, because we have been doing our part and have been fair,” Cohen said.

All towns are constitutionally mandated to provide their "fair share" of affordable housing for the region under the Mount Laurel Doctrine.

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