Public hearing on amended housing plan for Freehold's master plan.

BOROUGH OF FREEHOLD
 
NOTICE OF PLANNING BOARD MEETING CONCERNING THE
AMENDED HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN
OF THE BOROUGH'S MASTER PLAN
 
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on February 25, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., in accordance with the Municipal Land Use Law (“MLUL”), more particularly N.J.S.A. 40:55D-13, the Planning Board of the Borough of Freehold, County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey (the “Borough”), at a regular meeting, will conduct a public hearing and take action on the Borough's proposed Amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (the “Amended HEFSP”) in connection with a proceedings known as, In the Matter of the Application of the Borough of Freehold for a Declaratory Judgment Action, bearing Docket No. MON-L-759-22 and In the Matter of the Application of the Borough of Freehold for a Declaratory Judgment Action, bearing Docket No. MON-L-294-25, pending in the Superior Court before the Honorable Linda Grasso Jones, J.S.C., Law Division, Monmouth County (the “DJ Actions”). This proceeding involves litigation filed by the Borough of Freehold pursuant to the New Jersey Supreme Court's March 10, 2015 decision in the matter of In re N.J.A.C. 5:96 & N.J.A.C. 5:97, 221 N.J. 1 (2015). The meeting will take place at Borough Hall, located at 30 Mechanic Street, Freehold, New Jersey 07728.
 
As part of the settlement and resolution of the DJ Actions, the Borough's Planning Consultant, Topology, LLC, (the “Planning Consultant”) prepared the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (the “Original HEFSP”), an element of the Borough's Master Plan, in which it identified specific sites and compliance mechanisms to address the Borough's housing obligations that present a realistic opportunity for the development of housing affordable to very low, low and moderate income households. The Original HEFSP also delineates the actions taken, and to be taken, by the Borough to satisfy its Third and Fourth Round affordable housing responsibilities under applicable laws. The Borough's Fourth Round affordable housing obligation was determined by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to be a present need or rehabilitation component of 270 affordable units and a prospective need or new construction obligation of 49 units for the period of 2025 to 2035. The Borough Planning Board adopted the Original HEFSP on June 25, 2025. Following subsequent negotiations with Fair Share Housing Center, as part of the settlement and resolution of the DJ Actions, the Planning Consultant prepared an amendment to the Original HEFSP (the “Amended HEFSP”).
 
Following public comment, the Planning Board shall consider adoption of the Amended HEFSP by way of resolution. The Amended HEFSP was prepared in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28(b)(3) of the MLUL and the mandatory requirements of a Housing Element under the New Jersey Fair Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 to -329.20, and the Administrative Office of the Courts Directive #14-24.
 
A copy of the Amended HEFSP, and any other relevant documents, are on file and available for public inspection and/or photocopying (at requestor's expense) during normal business hours, beginning on February 15, 2026, in the Borough Clerk's office located at 30 Mechanic Street, Freehold, New Jersey 07728 and posted on the Borough's website. Any party interested in commenting on the HEFSP may do so at the public hearing or may submit written comments to the Planning Board prior to the public hearing date, in accordance with the rules of the Planning Board.
($68.64)