Montgomery Approves Sweeping Affordable Housing Plan Amid Infrastructure Questions

A Tale of Two Towns: Hillsborough and Montgomery Take Divergent Paths on Affordable Housing Mandate

Nicholas Mistretta

Two Somerset County neighbors—Hillsborough Township and Montgomery Township—have responded in sharply contrasting ways to the state’s Fourth Round Affordable Housing mandates under Governor Phil Murphy’s Fair Share Housing requirements. Both towns met the looming June 30 submission deadline—but the paths they took couldn’t be more different.

Montgomery: Full Compliance, Cautious Execution
On Thursday evening, after nearly 2.75 hours of public comment, the Montgomery Township Planning Board voted to adopt the 2025 Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The vote was largely in favor, with only one dissenting vote from Board Member Blodgett.

Roll call vote:
Campeas – yes
Todd – yes
Singh – yes
Roberts – yes
Kahn – yes
Hamilton – yes
Glockler – yes
Battle – yes
Blodgett – no

Montgomery’s plan fully complies with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) figures:

• Present Need (Rehabilitation Obligation): 73 units
• Prospective Need (2025-2035): 260 units
• Total Fourth Round Obligation: 333 units

Montgomery’s strategy includes a variety of inclusionary developments, and potential amendments once water and sewer infrastructure capacity is fully assessed. Township officials emphasized that while the plan is ambitious, it builds upon a history of full compliance with prior rounds—ensuring continued legal protection from builder’s remedy lawsuits.

Hillsborough: Strategic Pushback and Negotiated Relief
Just one night prior, at the Hillsborough Township Committee’s Wednesday meeting, officials unanimously approved their Fourth Round submission—but only after successfully reducing their original DCA-mandated number from 565 units to 223.

Mayor’s leadership and legal strategy were credited for the change.

“At the mayor’s direction, we proved that the number was unrealistic,” said committee member Shawn Lipani. “We showed proof and the math to bring it to the number we feel it should be. Is it perfect? No. But this is the hand we were dealt.”

Had Hillsborough accepted the original figure, officials claim the township would have faced the construction of 2,825 total housing units—a number they argue would have overwhelmed the town’s infrastructure and schools.

While the final vote was unanimous, it did not come without tension. Committeewoman Samantha Hand and Committeeman Shawn Lipani exchanged pointed remarks during the meeting over process and communication. Still, the resolution passed, and the town avoided costly legal exposure.

Two Paths, One Goal
Both Montgomery and Hillsborough now move forward with court submissions that preserve their immunity from builder’s remedy lawsuits. But their philosophies diverge:

Township	Initial DCA Obligation	Final Township Figure	Approach
Hills	565 units	223 units	Negotiated downward
Mont	333 units	333 units	Full compliance with DCA numbers

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com