Montgomery Moves to Preserve Existing Affordable Housing

Nicholas Mistretta

Montgomery Township officials said this week that the township is moving forward with a revised affordable housing strategy focused on preserving existing deed-restricted units, pushing back against what they described as inaccurate and increasingly divisive social media claims.

During an affordable housing update at last night’s Township Committee meeting, committee members urged residents to seek information directly from township officials rather than relying on online speculation.

“I have noticed there has been chatter on social media about our affordable housing,” Mayor Singh said, calling the rumors “disheartening” and reminding residents they can contact committee members directly through the township website for accurate information.

Township Attorney Wendy Rubinstein-Quiroga provided the formal update, explaining that the municipality has entered the state’s new affordable housing mediation process, a judicial-administrative program that uses retired judges to help resolve disputes in the initial round of fourth-round compliance.

Rubinstein-Quiroga said the township recently held its first mediation session via Zoom. Because objections have been filed against the township’s plan, she said mediation discussions are “almost mandatory.” She emphasized that the mediation itself is confidential and therefore did not disclose detailed strategy, but said the public outcome of the session is clear: the township has formally notified the program and interested parties that it will amend its plan so that current feedback reflects the municipality’s updated intent.

That updated intent, she said, remains consistent with the committee’s stated priority over the last several months: preserving as many existing affordable units as possible through extended deed restrictions and controls.

“The first priority has always been for this Township Committee to extend the deed restriction and the controls on as many, if not all, of the affordable housing that already exists in town,” Rubinstein-Quiroga said.

She described the approach as a major benefit to current and future residents, arguing that retaining existing affordable units avoids the need for additional construction solely to generate new set-asides.

Pike Run agreement in principle anchors revised plan
A key breakthrough, Rubinstein-Quiroga said, is progress with the owner of Pike Run, which she identified as holding the largest share of the township’s rental affordable housing units.

The township now has an agreement in principle—a verbal understanding—for an extension of at least 96 units at Pike Run.

“Candidly, we’re trying to get more,” she said. But she noted that 96 units would bring the township to a level that supports the full revised compliance framework.

Because of that progress, Rubinstein-Quiroga said the revised plan would not include additional developments to meet obligations beyond projects already in the pipeline.

“There’ll be no other developments included in our housing plan,” she said, specifically naming Kenvue and adding that the revised strategy also does not rely on other potential sites. She noted, however, that Thrive, which has already been approved, will still provide credits.

Competing objections remain
Rubinstein-Quiroga outlined a complex legal landscape surrounding the plan. Fair Share Housing Center did not object to Montgomery’s submission, she said, but two citizen groups have objected to the inclusion of Kenvue-related elements, while Kenvue has objected to those citizen objections.

With parties disputing aspects of the plan, the judge overseeing the program determined there is no need for additional mediation sessions. The township expects to present its position through oral argument, rather than testimony, at the next procedural stage.

Rubinstein-Quiroga said the township’s stance will remain focused on protecting existing credits and preventing the loss of affordability already established in town.

Timing: formal amendment expected in early 2026

Officials also addressed timeline concerns that have fueled online speculation.

Rubinstein-Quiroga said the township is not yet amending the plan formally because it is awaiting program and/or Superior Court judge feedback to avoid duplicative steps. She said the plan will move forward through a properly noticed public process in early 2026.

Residents can expect the public planning process to occur in the second half of January or in February, with a goal of no later than February.

She also noted an upcoming change in state law beginning March 2026, requiring towns to publish notices on their websites rather than relying solely on newspaper advertisements—an update she said will expand access and modernize how residents receive official information.

Committee promises ongoing updates
Committee members thanked the township’s professionals and reiterated that the strategy reflects what residents have heard in public meetings and town halls.

One member suggested keeping affordable housing as a standing agenda item through at least the first quarter of 2026, even on nights with no major developments, to ensure transparency and reduce misinformation.

Officials also encouraged residents to attend upcoming public meetings—including the Planning Board meeting on Monday, where a similar update is expected—so the community can track the process in real time.

For now, township leaders said the direction is clear: protect what Montgomery already has, minimize unnecessary new construction pressures, and move through the state process with a revised plan designed to preserve affordability for the long term.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com