Planning Board Resolution Chapter XXV Amendments & Supplements re: 25-19 IH-1 #20-03

Commentary: The procedure followed in developing the proposed ordinance combines public and private procedures that result in an efficient use of land. 4. The Board has compared the Ordinance to the Land Use Plan Element of the 2019 Master Plan Update Report and the Housing Plan Element and finds that the intent of the proposed Ordinance advances the goal for a balanced land use plan that can meet the constitutional mandate to provide for the Township’s fair share of the regional need for affordable housing. Nonetheless, the Township’s Master Plan Land Use Plan Element currently designates the West Essex Highlands site for single-family residential development, and thus the proposed District IH-1 is therefore inconsistent with its Master Plan land use designation. 5. Notwithstanding this inconsistency, the Board recommends that the Township Council adopt the proposed Ordinance, considering the following facts and reasons: e The proposed ordinance provides a better balance of land uses sought in the Master Plan. e The proposed development required by the proposed District [H-1 should result in a compact building layout and design. e Prior development proposals for this property in accordance with single-family zoning would have disturbed more land area and would not have been required to include sustainability measures. e The proposed IH-1 District and the aforementioned West Essex Highlands, Inc. settlement agreement both set a maximum area of disturbance on the property for development and tree clearing at 30 acres — or one-quarter of the overall site area. e Numerous sustainable design elements are mandated in the proposed development. e The proposed IH-1 District will advance the goal of diversifying the housing stock and providing affordable housing to meet the constitutional obligation. 6. For all of the above reasons, the Board finds that while the proposed Ordinance is technically inconsistent with the Land Use Plan element of the Master Plan, the proposed Ordinance strikes a reasonable balance among the many planning considerations affected by the Ordinance, and provides a reasonable planning option for the properties affected by the Ordinance. Thus, the Board recommends adoption of the Ordinance. WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the hearing, based on the foregoing findings, the Board took action recommending to the Township Council that the

. Thus, the Board recommends adoption of the Ordinance. WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the hearing, based on the foregoing findings, the Board took action recommending to the Township Council that the Ordinance be adopted; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED on this 7th day of October, 2020, by the Planning Board of the Township of West Orange, County of Essex, New Jersey, that the Page 3 of 4