Draft_October 2025_West Orange_HEFSP_with Appendices

the Township to satisfy its “fair share" of the regional need for low- and moderate- income housing; and WHEREAS, the Township and FSHC also agreed to present the Settlement Agreement to the Trial Judge for approval at a duly-noticed Mount Laurel Fairness Hearing; and WHEREAS, although there is a well-established policy favoring the settlement of all forms of litigation, the settlement of Mount Laurel litigation is particularly favored because (1) it avoids the expenditure of finite public resources; and (2) expedites the construction of safe, decent housing for the region’s low- and moderate-income households; and WHEREAS, in light of the above, the Council finds that it is in the best interest of the Township to execute the attached Settlement Agreement with FSHC and to take the various other actions delineated below, which will ultimately result in approval of the Township's Fair Share Plan which, in turn, will maintain the Township's immunity from all Mount Laure! lawsuits for the ten-year period set forth in the New Jersey Fair Share Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 to 329. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE that the Township Council hereby directs, authorizes and empowers the Mayor to execute the Settlement Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit “A;” and be it further RESOLVED, that the Council hereby directs, authorizes and empowers the Township's Counsel to (a) file the fully-executed Settlement Agreement with the Court is) 4810-8690-6037, v. 1