Draft_October 2025_West Orange_HEFSP_with Appendices

Township of West Orange October 2025 Essex County, New Jersey Draft Housing Element and Fair Share Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan has been prepared for the Township of West Orange in the County of Essex in accordance with the Fair Housing Act as most recently amended (P.L. 2024, c 2). The Township of West Orange is a 12.1 square mile developed community located in the northeastern part of New Jersey in the County of Essex. The Township is surrounded by Montclair and Verona to the north, Livingston, Roseland, and Essex Fells to the west, Maplewood, Millburn, and South Orange to the south, and Orange to the east. Interstate 280 bisects the Township and offers connections to the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. West Orange includes areas of significant grade change within its eastern and western sections. According to the 2020 Census, West Orange’s population was 48,843, which represents an increase of 5.7 percent from 2010. The US Census Bureau 2019-2023 American Community Survey estimates a total population of 48,276 in 2023. In 2020, the median age of Township residents was 42.2 years, and the average household size decreased slightly from the 2010 level of 2.74 persons to 2.73 persons. The housing stock of the Township is predominantly single-family detached dwelling units. A majority of the housing structures was built prior to 1960. The Township is located in Housing Region 2, a region that consists of Essex, Morris, Union, and Warren counties. Based on the 2025 Regional Income Limits (released by Affordable Housing Professionals of New Jersey on May 5, 2025), the median income in Region 2 for a four-person household is $135,300, the moderate-income is $108,240, the low-income is $67,650, and the very-low-income level is $40,590. West Orange Township entered into a Settlement Agreement with Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC) to establish the Township’s Third Round affordable housing obligation on April 6, 2020. A second settlement agreement with the Township, West Essex Highlands, Inc., (“WEHI”), and the West Essex Highlands Condominium Association, Inc., (the “Association”) was executed on April 23, 2020 (“WEHI

cond settlement agreement with the Township, West Essex Highlands, Inc., (“WEHI”), and the West Essex Highlands Condominium Association, Inc., (the “Association”) was executed on April 23, 2020 (“WEHI Settlement Agreement”).” Subsequent compliance efforts were approved by the Court in a Final Judgement of Compliance and Repose (JOR), dated March 17, 2021, confirming the Township satisfied its Third Round obligations. The Township was able to fully meet its Prior Round and Third Round obligations through credit-worthy units that are existing or proposed, as well as through rental bonus credits. The Township has a Fourth Round rehabilitation share of 409 units and a Fourth Round Prospective Need of 660 units. This Prospective Need is separated into a realistic development potential (RDP) of 0 units and an unmet need of 660 units. 6