Richard Cash, another resident, detailed his personal struggles with flooding and expressed fears that the new development would worsen these issues. He noted that his efforts to manage water runoff could be undermined by the project, which he claimed most Bridgewater residents were unaware of. Jennifer Fleer, a local business owner, raised infrastructure concerns, pointing out the lack of sidewalks and poor lighting, which she argued made the neighborhood unsuitable for high-density development. Fleer clarified that her objections were not against affordable housing per se but against the proposed location’s inadequacy.

The council also faced inquiries about the procedural aspects of the housing development, including a request for clarification on an agenda item related to future police promotions. Residents questioned the legitimacy of the proposed access point, with Brett Ratty raising concerns over the vacated “paper street” and suggesting the ordinance be reconsidered. Barbara Cook reiterated her opposition, stating that the driveway serving the proposed development was part of her property.

The public comment session underscored widespread apprehension about the rezoning’s impact on safety, noise, and traffic, alongside calls for the council to explore alternative sites better aligned with the community’s residential character. As the meeting progressed, residents expressed a desire for greater transparency and engagement in the decision-making process related to the township’s affordable housing mandate.

A separate yet related discussion revolved around the township’s affordable housing plan and its legal challenges. A speaker highlighted three pending lawsuits, two from developers and one from a fair housing organization, expressing frustration with the planning process and asserting that the lack of transparency and thoughtfulness had led to legal issues. The speaker criticized the mayor’s past comments, which suggested that residents would not notice any problems with the housing plan, arguing that this was misleading given the ongoing legal challenges.

The council addressed concerns about the notification process for zoning changes, with Kathy Franco criticizing the omission of a street address in public notices. She challenged council members to identify their own lot and block numbers, questioning the transparency of such notifications. The discussion also touched on the timeline of the affordable housing planning process, with a council member clarifying that specific parcels were identified following guidance from the Department of Community Affairs.

Concerns over the township’s financial management were also raised, with one resident expressing frustration over unanswered queries regarding the financial audit, master plan, and salary disclosures for township employees. The council assured that the draft master plan would be published with a public hearing scheduled.