At its June 16 meeting, the Hopewell Township Committee formally introduced the Township’s Round 4 Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, detailing how it will meet the state’s requirement to provide 449 affordable housing units by 2035—and calling for public input ahead of final adoption later this month.
Under a newly reformed state process, municipalities must submit a certified plan to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) by June 30. Hopewell Township’s plan outlines a mix of strategies that will allow it to meet its obligation without building any new market-rate housing—a major shift from previous housing rounds.
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the plan on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom only, and the Township Committee is scheduled to adopt the final plan on Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. That meeting is in person or via Zoom.
The plan, introduced by Township Attorney Steve Goodell, outlines how the Township will meet its 399-unit Round 4 obligation, plus 50 units carried over from Round 3, for a total of 449 units. All components of the plan are eligible under the state’s updated Housing Element rules, which prioritize local input, preservation, and redevelopment over court-driven mandates.
The 449 units will be achieved through the following:
- 120 credits from renewing affordability controls on existing homes, primarily in Brandon Farms and similar neighborhoods. These homes were originally built as affordable housing roughly 30 years ago, and their expiring deed restrictions have now been extended to maintain long-term affordability.
- 212 credits from three municipally sponsored, 100% affordable developments:
- 70 units on the former Weidel tract between Denow and Diverty Roads
- 25 units on the Pennytown site along Route 31
- 54 units on land south of I-295 owned by The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
These projects are eligible for “bonus credits” under the state’s formula, which incentivizes fully affordable developments led by municipalities or nonprofits. The TCNJ site will also include 42 age-restricted units and a 15-unit assisted living facility, expanding the Township’s options for seniors and those needing supportive housing.
- Group homes and special-needs housing make up the remainder of the credits. This includes 18-units by ARC Mercer, which owns Block 85, Lot 3 and will be developing a 100% affordable housing project on the site consisting of a single home that will contain multiple units.
The plan is the result of months of technical work and community consultation and is designed to protect local zoning authority. Under the new state law—P.L. 2024, c. 2—municipalities that fail to submit a certified plan by June 30 risk losing control over land-use decisions and becoming vulnerable to so-called “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, which allow developers to bypass local density and zoning restrictions.
Officials emphasized the importance of public participation as the plan nears final adoption. Both upcoming meetings will offer opportunities for residents to review detailed maps, ask questions, and provide feedback. The full plan is available for public review on the Township website.
Other Actions from the June 16 Meeting
In addition to introducing the housing plan, the Committee proposed a salary ordinance that would increase compensation for full-time Township employees and elected officials. Under the ordinance:
- Committee member pay would rise from $6,000 to $10,000
- The Deputy Mayor would receive $12,000
- The Mayor would be paid $16,000
Salary caps for Township staff positions would increase between 1.2% and 11.1%, depending on the role. The ordinance will be open for public discussion at the next regular meeting on July 14.
The Committee also passed or introduced several additional items:
- A proclamation recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Independence Day
- A new land use ordinance requiring stormwater controls on minor developments.
