Divided Council Passes Affordable Housing Measure to Align With Mandate

In a charged Franklin Lakes Borough Council meeting, Council members and residents faced off over a property development slated to be the largest in the borough’s history. Central issues included a proposed 495-unit multifamily housing project by and a federal use option that has stirred outcry from some community members. While the project promises to meet the borough’s affordable housing quota, it comes amidst contentious debate over zoning ordinances, taxpayer liability, and environmental and traffic impacts.

Mayor Charles J.X. Kahwaty kicked off the meeting by discussing the proposed terms of the development, emphasizing its alignment with the Mount Laurel doctrine, which mandates the inclusion of affordable housing in new residential developments. The proposed settlement would replace a previous agreement, and notably does not require a warehouse, a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), or a declaration of the area as requiring redevelopment. Despite these points, public trust remains a stumbling block for the Council.

Beth McManus, the borough’s affordable housing planner, expounded on how the agreement does not necessitate additional expenses or zoning adjustments, potentially making it attractive from a bureaucratic standpoint. However, several citizens called the Council’s transparency into question, claiming that there was insufficient information about what the federal use for the site would be and accusing the Council of crafting a zoning ordinance tailored to the developer’s needs. One resident remarked, “How can you agree to an option if you don’t know where you’re going with that use?”

Council members defended their decision, stating that federal use would include education, office space, and financial services while explicitly ruling out detention centers, prisons, and warehouses. In rebuttal, citizens argued this amounted to a “giveaway” to the developer, bypassing the need for variances.

Traffic concerns and environmental considerations loomed large in the discussions. Residents around Old Mill Road and Walnut Street are particularly anxious about potential shifts in traffic patterns, citing a nearby school for autistic children. On the environmental front, the question of impact on local groundwater and wells was raised. One resident suggested that aligning the area with the Highlands region, which has stricter development rules, would offer better protection.

Legal nuances also made it to the forefront, especially concerning the borough’s obligation to defend the developer in legal disputes. Members of the planning board questioned the level of control they would have over the use of existing buildings, creating further tension between the Council and the board.

Amidst the back and forth, the Council clarified that the development, if approved, would meet all of the borough’s current affordable housing requirements. Thomas G. Lambrix, a council member, asserted that any approval would still need to meet all public health and welfare standards, pointing out that waivers could be granted for affordable housing except when tied to public health and welfare.

Some members argued that the current deal was a compromise, mitigating the risk of a lawsuit that could result in an even higher number of units being built. In the end, the motion to approve the plan carried, with the Council divided. Following the vote, one council member cited the U.S. Constitution, arguing that giving in to the housing deal would mean sacrificing freedoms and setting a dangerous precedent.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Not avaliable:

City Council Officials:

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording