Tiny Home Approved For Long Valley Veteran

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A tiny home for a Long Valley veteran has been approved by the Washington Township planning board, making a first for the township.

"Last night, the Planning Board approved the proposal by OPERATION CHILLOUT to install a tiny home on East Valley Brook Rd to assist a veteran as he transitions back into the work force. This is temporary housing for a veteran as he gets training and works his way back into the work force," Mayor Matt Murello said.

The township committee voted to approve conditional zoning standards that allow farms to host micro housing dedicated to veterans last August; this is the first such home to gain planning board approval. Micro housing, also known as tiny homes, are homes under 300 square feet and no more than 13.5 feet tall that are built with wheels so they can be moved at any point.

The home will be built by Operation Chillout, a local group that helps homeless veterans find homes and resources. They primarily serve northeastern New Jersey.

"This is the first of it's kind program in this area doing what's right to help our homeless veterans," Murello said.