54-26 Resolution Endorsing Fourth Round HEFSP.pdf

54-26 February 10, 2026 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, on March 20, 2024, the New Jersey Governor signed into law P.L. 2024, c.2, which amended various provisions of the New Jersey Fair Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq. ("FHA-2"); and WHEREAS, the FHA-2 sets forth that the Fourth Round period of affordable housing obligations shall run from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2035 ("Fourth Round" or "Round Four"); and WHEREAS, amongst other things, P.L. 2024, c. 2 abolished the Council on Affordable Housing, created the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program ("Program"), and established new procedures and deadlines for municipalities to come into compliance with the FHA and the Mount Laurel doctrine for each future ten-year affordable housing round beginning with the Fourth Round, which starts on July 1, 2025 and ends on June 30, 2035; and WHEREAS, in December 2024 the Administrative Office of the Courts issued Directive #14-24, which sets forth additional procedures all municipalities must follow to be in compliance with the FHA in order to maintain immunity from exclusionary zoning and builder's remedy litigation through the Program process set forth in P.L. 2024, c. 2; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-304.l(f)(l)(b), each municipality was to adopt a binding resolution no later than January 31, 2025, determining and setting forth its present and prospective fair share obligations for the "Fourth Round" of affordable housing obligations ("Fourth Round"); and WHEREAS, on January 28, 2025, the Township Council of the Township of West Orange adopted Resolution No. 67-25 accepting the Department of Community Affairs Fourth Round calculations for the Township’s affordable housing obligations, which consist of 409 units of present need and 660 units of prospective need; and WHEREAS, West Orange Township has duly filed an action with the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program, which action is entitled "In The Matter Of Township of West Orange, a municipal corporation in the State Of New Jersey”, filed under docket number ESX-L-000886-25 on or about January 31, 2025; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the Honorable Aldo J. Russo, J.S.C. issued an Order setting the Township’s Fourth Round affordable housing obligation at 409 units of present need and 660 units of