The meeting’s primary focus was the introduction and implications of Ordinance 24-20. The ordinance redefines rental housing and land use regulations within the borough. A significant aspect of this ordinance is the creation of a student housing rental zone, primarily located near Rowan University on Carpenter Street and a portion of North Main Street. This overlay district specifies where the new student housing definitions apply.

The ordinance’s introduction stems from issues related to the rapid expansion of Rowan University, which has led to increased demand for student housing. The ordinance ensures that new student housing developments adhere to specific standards, such as lot size, house size, and parking requirements. This approach aims to balance neighborhood integrity with the practical needs of housing a growing student population. The borough’s governing body and local engineers collaborated to create standards that allow large student houses while ensuring adequate parking and minimizing neighborhood disruption.

In conjunction with zoning changes, a new parking standard was adopted. This standard requires additional parking for residences with more than five bedrooms. Each additional bedroom beyond the fifth necessitates an extra parking space. This regulation aims to reduce street parking congestion, a frequent complaint in areas with high student housing density. The borough plans to revise ordinances to accommodate these changes.

These measures were presented as part of a comprehensive strategy to manage student housing growth and its impact on the community. The zoning board emphasized that pending applications for student housing submitted before the ordinance’s adoption will not be affected by the new regulations.