Zoning change paves way for Bluh & Batelli project
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - Several residents expressed their opposition to an ordinance that changes the zoning of a property slated for an affordable housing project.

The ordinance, which was adopted by the Township Council on Oct. 19, changes the zoning of a property on Route 79 just south of Church Lane. The site is slated for Bluh and Batelli's affordable housing project which calls for the construction of 200 age-restricted market rate units and 50 affordable rental units.

Affordable housing is defined as housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to individuals whose income meets regional guidelines.

Bluh and Batelli also agreed to fund 65 Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA) units at $35,000 per unit. The RCA will permit Marlboro to transfer some of its obligation to provide affordable housing to Trenton, according to Township Attorney Andrew Bayer.

In order to implement the agreement for the affordable units on the 75-acre Bluh and Batelli site, the zoning of the property had to be amended. The ordinance states that the site will be changed to an MFD-111 multi-family district, which permits the construction of detached single-family homes, attached single-family duplex units, zero lot line residential units and townhouse residential units, multi-family residential tenant buildings, clustered townhomes, garden apartments and estate homes.

According to Bayer, the current zoning allows six homes per acre which would permit 450 units to be built on the 75-acre site. The zone change would decrease the number of units allowed to be built on the site to four homes per acre.

Several residents ex-pressed their concerns with the housing project during the public hearing on the ordinance. Those concerns included the traffic the plan would generate, the location of the site being in a part of Marlboro that is already overdeveloped, the density of the plan and the construction that will take place near their homes.

After the public hearing was closed, township officials explained that the council was ordered by a court to include the Bluh and Batelli project in the township's affordable housing plan. Officials also noted that the plan originally included the construction of 210 market-rate units and 68 affordable housing units. That plan - unlike the development plan that is now in place - did not include any age-restricted units to be built on the site.