Planning Board meeting to discuss housing element and fair share plan.

BOROUGH OF WATCHUNG
PLANNING BOARD
 
TAKE NOTICE in compliance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act of the State of New Jersey, the Borough of Watchung, Somerset County, hereby announces that the Planning Board has scheduled the following Regular Meeting for Tuesday, April 21st, 2026.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the meeting will take place in person at 7:30pm at the Borough of Watchung Municipal Building located at 15 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ 07069. OFFICIAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN. The following will be heard:
 
PB26-01; SHOPRITE
Blue Star Shopping Center
Block 6404, Lots 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, & 2.04
Expiration: July 23rd, 2026
 
PB26-02; RAISING CANE'S
Proposed Fast-Food Restaurant with Drive-Thru
Blue Star Shopping Center
Block 6404, Lots 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, & 2.04
Expiration: July 23rd, 2026
 
Take further notice that, pursuant to NJSA 40:55D-13 of the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, the Planning Board of the Borough of Watchung in the County of Somerset will hold a Regular Meeting to review several ordinances relating to the 4th Round Housing Element and Fair Share Housing Plan (HEFSP), which will amend the Borough's Master Plan. The meeting will take place at Borough Hall, 15 Mountain Blvd, Watchung, NJ 07069, 2nd floor at 7:30pm.
 
After public comment, the Planning Board may take action to adopt the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan which was prepared in accordance with NJSA 40:55D-28(b)(3) of MLUL mandatory requirements of a Housing Element under the recently amended NJ Fair Housing Act, relevant regulations of the NJ Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), and the Administrative Office of the Courts Directive #14-24. The Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan also delineates the actions taken, and to be taken, by the Borough to create a ‘realistic opportunity' to satisfy its fair share of the regional need for affordable housing. The 2025 HEFSP, an element of the Borough's Master Plan, describes how the Borough will meet its fourth-round affordable housing obligation through various compliance mechanisms.
 
The draft plan can be viewed at Borough Hall, 15 Mountain Blvd, or emailing the boardclerk@watchungnj.gov attention to Planning Board Clerk and is available for public inspection M-F 8am-2pm. Formal Action May be taken.
 
By Order of the Planning Board:
Catherine Furlan, Board Clerk
County of Somerset, New Jersey
 
3/28/26 ($55.04)