Denville one step closer to building 183 townhouses

Denville moved a step closer to the building of 183 townhouses with the Council's approval of two settlement agreements on Tuesday.  

RAM Associates, a Toll Brothers company, proposes building 118 townhouses while Glenmont Commons proposes 65.

“After considerable public discussion, both settlement agreements were approved by the Township Council,” said Administrator Steven Ward.

The agreements will have to go in front of a judge who will determine if the affordable units proposed in the plans are enough to satisfy the township's affordable housing obligation. The judge will either approve or reject the plan. 

RAM Associates' plan calls for townhouses on Franklin Avenue at the Rockaway borough border. The Glenmont Commons plan calls for homes on Casterline Road at the Parsippany-Troy Hills border.

According to both settlement agreements, 20 percent of townhouses sold would be reserved for low-to-moderate income households. Fifteen percent of rental units would be reserved for low income to moderate income households.

The RAM plans call for the market-rate townhouses to be mixed in with the affordable units. The affordable units call for one-car driveways, while the market units have two-car driveways.

Glenmont Commons plans call for two buildings comprised of one- to three-bedroom units. Fifteen affordable housing units would be mixed into buildings and largely look the same as the market-rate units from the outside. 

Setting them apart would be the driveways and garages, that would belong to the market-rate units while the affordable units would only come with surface parking. Most market rate units will be designed to have two to three bedrooms and have a two-floor layout.  

Town leaders said many developers have expressed interest in building in Denville, but the two proposals given the green light call for lower density housing, with a maximum of five units per acre, said Ward. The proposal also calls for a landscape that is more suitable for development.

According to the Fair Share Housing Center, Denville’s affordable housing obligation is 1,313 units. The Consortium, which is a group of municipalities that have banded together, arrived at 112 as Denville’s requirement.

In order to stave off lawsuits filed by builders, municipalities must show they are acting in good faith, said Planning Board Attorney Edward Buzak. Approving the settlement agreements shows good faith, he said.

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“The next step is a Fairness Hearing before the judge,” said Ward. “The judge, after a public hearing, will either approve the plan or not. Once the judge approves the settlement agreement, the agreement provides that a zoning ordinance needs to be introduced/adopted within 60 days.
 
A date for the hearing has yet to be determined. 

Email: myers@northjersey.com