West Orange Township_Fourth Round HEFSP_Final Draft

Township of West Orange August 2025 Essex County, New Jersey Draft Housing Element and Fair Share Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In March of 2024, a developer approached the Township with a proposal to utilize the site as a four-story residential development. Conforming to the standards of the MSS, the residential units will be located on the second floor and above. A gross density of 24 dwelling units/acre is proposed for the site, with an affordable set aside of 20%. This would create a total of 12 rental units on the site, which includes three (3) affordable units. The three units will be applied to the Township’s Fourth Round Unmet Need obligation. Further, the Township will claim 1 bonus credit, at a ratio of 0.5 bonus credits per 1 unit, as the proposed units meet the COAH criteria described below: “A unit of low- or moderate-income housing constructed on land that is or was previously developed and utilized for retail, office, or commercial space.” The site is appropriate for multi-family low- and moderate-income housing as it is available, approvable, developable, and suitable: • Available: The site has no easements or title issues preventing its development. • Suitable: The site is almost entirely surrounded by residential uses. Its development is consistent with the goals and strategies outlined in the State Plan. The site is located within the Metropolitan Planning Area (PA 1). Further, the site’s proximity frontage along Main Street offers access to employment and service establishments. • Developable: The site falls within sewer and public water service areas, and has access to appropriate public streets with frontage on Main Street. • Approvable: As it is located within the Downtown Redevelopment Area’s MSS, the site does not need to be rezoned to accommodate inclusionary multifamily developments. A gross density of 24 dwelling units/acre with a 20% set aside is proposed. 80