Montgomery Township to Unveil Fourth Round Affordable Housing Plan at Monday’s Special Planning Board Meeting.

Nicholas Mistretta

Montgomery Township’s Planning Board will hold a special meeting this Monday, June 24, at 5:00 p.m. to present and discuss the town’s Fourth Round Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan (HPE/FSP)—a required update to comply with New Jersey’s affordable housing mandates under the Fair Housing Act and state administrative directives.

The plan, a comprehensive update to the Township’s Third Round housing compliance framework approved in 2023, is a legal obligation that lays out how Montgomery intends to meet its affordable housing requirements through 2035. It will also serve as the formal basis for the Township’s upcoming submission to the Superior Court of New Jersey and the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.

What’s at Stake

This Fourth Round plan addresses Montgomery’s newly assigned obligations:

• 73 units of present need (i.e., rehabilitating substandard housing)
• 260 units of prospective need (i.e., newly developed affordable housing from 2025–2035)

To meet these goals, the Township plans to leverage several inclusionary developments—such as 23 Orchard, formerly the Applied Data Research/Computer Associates building, located at the corner of Route 206 and Orchard Road, and the Kenvue building, formerly Johnson & Johnson located on Grand View Road—as well as age-restricted housing, rehabilitation programs, and extensions of existing affordability controls. The plan also notes the Township’s intent to fund a local rehabilitation program using its affordable housing trust fund.

Montgomery has a strong track record: it has already fulfilled its Prior Round (1987–1999) obligation of 307 units and its Third Round (1999–2025) obligation of 616 units through a combination of family rental units, age-restricted housing, group homes, and municipally-sponsored projects.

However, key infrastructure questions—particularly related to sewer and water capacity—remain unresolved. The plan explicitly states that amendments may be necessary once those constraints are clarified.

Why Residents Should Attend

This is a pivotal moment in Montgomery’s growth story. Known for its thoughtful planning, commitment to open space, and high quality of life, Montgomery now faces the challenge of meeting state-mandated housing obligations while maintaining the character of the community.

Residents are strongly encouraged to attend the Monday meeting to listen, ask questions, and share input. The decisions made in this phase will shape future development patterns, housing diversity, traffic impacts, and infrastructure investments.

Public involvement matters—especially in a community where preservation, balance, and civic engagement have always guided local planning.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com