River Vale, NJ (May 8, 2025)-The Township Council approved a revised obligation for affordable housing buildings in the fourth round of 179 units after a mediation meeting with the New Jersey Builder Association and the affordable housing dispute resolution program.
Economic administrator and CFO Gennaro Rotella confirmed the new number at the council meeting on April 28. The updated number is lower than the 195 units proposed by the State Department of Community Affairs in October 2024 and slightly higher than the number of 147 units passed by the Council in January to maintain a planning period.
The time of the fourth round runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2035. The efforts to achieve Mayor Mark Bromberg were not immediately successful.
Planning requirements and adjustments
All municipalities are currently subject to affordable housing obligations (rehabilitation) as well as for potential needs (new construction), submit a apartment element and a fair stock plan by June 30, 2025. All legal challenges must be submitted by August 31.
Officials from River Vale previously reduced the first proposal from 195 units to 147 units by adapting the land capacity factor. They excluded stored open space, developed property and country, which were listed in recreation and the open space inventory (Rosi) of the NJDEP.
“This adaptation reduced the total living obligation from 195 units to 147 units,” says the community's resolution in January.
This solution also states that the final number of adjustments on the basis of future court decisions, changes to the Fair Housing Act or the state methodology or other legal or legislative challenges are subject.
Most of the Pascack Valley cities contained similar restrictions on regulations to comply with the deadline on January 31. (See documents in njcourts.gov.)
The Council approves bonds of 5 million US dollars
Also on April 28, the Township Council approved over 5 million dollars of bond regulations:
- 4,132,723 USD for general municipal improvements, including $ 3,926,087 in bonds or notes
- $ 1,017,500 for upgrades in the River Vale Country Club in Township, including $ 966,625 in golf course Utility bonds
Rotella previously announced Pascack Press that the supply bonds for golf course are financed separately and that no taxpayers affect.
(See related reporting: “Fire engine, Fairway, Fairway and Fresh Pflasters: The Council flees 5 million US dollars on Bond package”, April 26, 2025)
Improvements by the library will come soon
The Council also approved:
- A contract for $ 18,400 with Watch Us Grow Landscape Design LLC from Northvale for design and landscape design in the River Vale Public Library
- A contract of $ 3,385 with rain flow sprinkler systems for the installation of lawns
Rotella said that the landscape design would be completed shortly after the irrigation work was completed.
“This complements the entire terrace that is done behind the library and give everything fresh,” he said.