M_PB 4th Round Affordable Housing Plan Infrastructure Concerns

P a g e | 1 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER www.westorange.org TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING 25 LAKESIDE AVENUE, WEST ORANGE, N.J. 07052 ZAYIBETH CARBALLO Tel/Fax: (973) 325-4160 Director/ Municipal Engineer Email: engineering@westorange.org MEMORANDUM TO: CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD CC: GENIECE GARY-ADAMS, PLANNING DIRECTOR/ZONING OFFICIAL DIANA P. MCGOVERN, ESQ., BOARD ATTORNEY FROM: ZAYIBETH CARBALLO, P.E., P.L.S., P.P, CME, CFM DIRECTOR/MUNICIPAL ENGINEER DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2025 SUBJECT: 4TH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE TOWNSHIP’S INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS In preparation of this memorandum, I have reviewed the following items:  Report entitled, “Draft Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, Township of West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.” The report prepared by Heyer, Gruel & Associates (HGA), is dated October 2025. The new law enacted in March 2024 by Governor Murphy and State legislature significantly amended New Jersey’s Fair Housing Act (FHA) and how the Fourth Round of Municipal Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (HEFSP) for 2025 to 2035 and future rounds to meet fair share housing obligations are established and satisfied. At the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday September 10th, 2025, the Township’s 4th Round Housing Element and Fair Share Housing Plan was presented by Susan Gruel, P.P. of HGA for which a request was made by the Planning Board for the Township Engineer to address concerns brought up by the residents during public comment. Some of the relevant factors and concerns to be taken into consideration for the proposed affordable housing sites are locations and the capacities of the Township’s existing infrastructure. Most of the proposed inclusionary developments are to take place in Main Street, Northfield Avenue and Pleasant Valley Way.