Ms. Baldwin, the New Jersey director for the Regional Plan Association (RPA), led the discussion on housing affordability and the potential role of ADUs. She characterized ADUs as compact, independent living spaces that could be integrated into single-family homes, offering a practical solution to the affordability issue. This approach, which she termed “gentle density,” enables increased housing supply without the need for high-rise developments.

Ms. Baldwin emphasized that nearly half of New Jersey’s renters and 29% of homeowners are overburdened by housing costs, positioning ADUs as a critical element of the solution. She further underscored the broad applicability of ADUs, as they can accommodate various needs, including affordable housing for younger and older people, potential income streams for homeowners, and multi-generational living arrangements.

In addition, she argued that ADUs could yield significant benefits for municipalities, such as increased revenue and more effective utilization of existing utilities and transportation infrastructure. These arguments sparked a lively discussion among the council members, many of whom showed interest in adopting ADUs within local ordinances.

Deputy Mayor Gee raised concerns about the impact of ADUs on local infrastructure and the potential for these units to be turned into short-term rental properties. Ms. Baldwin responded by noting that careful regulatory oversight could mitigate these risks, with ordinances requiring a minimum length of stay to prevent short-term rentals or setting parking rules based on the local context.

Despite the intricacy of the topic, the council demonstrated an understanding of the importance of ADUs in addressing the affordability crisis. Notably, one council member, Mr. Schwartz, expressed keen interest in seeing the ADU ordinances.

Separately, the council delved into a debate on revising local trash collection methods, and approved a bond for the purchase of a $1.8 million fire ladder truck.