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Town of Saddle River Settles with Fair Share Housing Center on Affordable Housing in Saddle River

Saddle River settles with

Saddle River enters settlement with Fair Share Housing Center and Saddle River Investors LLC on bringing affordable housing into town

On 2/10/20, in a historic and fast-paced change, the Borough of Saddle River led by Mayor Kurpis and the Town Council entered a settlement agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center and Saddle River Investors LLC.

In a surprise move that ended the multiple-year battle between the town and the Fair Share Housing Center – a not-for-profit whose mission is to push towns in NJ to offer affordable housing – the borough in a late-night closed session decided to vote for a settlement to build affordable housing and market-rate units into town. A total of over 220 new units will be built in this small town of 1,300 homes.

Unknown to most residents in town at the time of the settlement vote, this settlement will now include 2 locations to be built by real estate developer Saddle River Investors LLC, which includes the Rosie O’Donnell property and the late John Junker’s property located on 14 Algonquin Trail. The Junker’s property was sold by the late wife of John, Sandra Junkers, who is now the owner of her late husband’s Hytroc Tools company.

Another 100 units are to be built, under this settlement, by the Town of Saddle River on Choctaw Trail. These 100 units will be 100% rental units for affordable housing only. A 4th location is being considered on Woodcliff Lake Road for 24 special needs affordable rentals. This property is located close to the border of Woodcliff Lake, and their residents and Mayor have already voiced their displeasure for this current location.

The Town Council of Saddle River voted 5-1 in favor of the settlement with the lone ‘no’ vote coming from Eric Jensen. All other council members voted yes for the settlement including Duncan Carpenter, John DeRosa, David Hekemian, Paul Schulstad, and Rosario Ruffino – acting Council President.

At the 2/10/20 town meeting before the settlement vote, the Town Counsel reasoned in favor of the settlement for the following reasons:

  • The Judge decided in Jan 2020 that the town of Saddle River owe over 212 units for affordable housing, way below the 33 offered by the town. The town did not have any real estate offerings for that number of units.
  • Avoided the loss of immunity from ‘Builder’s remedy’ lawsuits, which would allow any developer who owns land in Saddle River to build affordable units against town wishes.
  • The possibility of the Fair Share Housing Center would ask for more units in town then 212 units.
  • The inability of the town to build 100% affordable-housing develops like the one on Choctaw Trail.
  • Loss of control over site selections, density, and zoning regulations.
  • Saddle River Investors LLC was given the right to build 2 properties for 120 units total, which 20% going to affordable units, the rest will be market rates.

The Mayor and Town Council members are excusing themselves from any public comments until the settlement is done and citing any upcoming possible lawsuits.

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