Overview on Affordable Housing (6/7/2021)

This Town of Westfield meeting on June 7, 2021, provided an overview of the town's affordable housing obligations, history, and current projects. Town officials discussed New Jersey's Fair Housing Act and the Mount Laurel doctrine, explaining how Westfield has proactively complied with affordable housing requirements through zoning changes, court settlements, and collaboration with the Council on Affordable Housing (COA). The town has identified specific sites, including town-owned properties and redevelopment areas like Westfield Crossing, to meet its affordable housing obligations, which currently include an unmet need of 190 units, realistically reduced to 62 units based on available land and zoning. Officials emphasized that affordable housing projects typically require developers to set aside at least 15% of units as affordable, with the remainder market-rate to ensure financial viability. The meeting also covered the administration of affordable housing applications through a third-party agent funded by the town's affordable housing trust fund, and addressed concerns about impacts on schools and traffic, noting studies and mitigation efforts underway. The discussion highlighted the town's efforts to maintain control over affordable housing development to avoid court-imposed projects and to ensure community benefits.