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Holmdel: NJ overcalculated how much affordable housing must be built in our town

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Holmdel: NJ overcalculated how much affordable housing must be built in our town



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HOLMDEL — The Township Committee voted to comply with the state’s affordable housing obligations Thursday night, but challenged the number of affordable homes required over the next decade, saying the state assigned Holmdel 35 units more than it should have. 

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“By at least moving forward, adopting this resolution, (Holmdel) will retain immunity from builder’s remedy litigation, which is something the township wants to do,” said Andy Bayer, the township’s lawyer for affordable housing.

Under a builder’s remedy lawsuit, a builder who has plans to include affordable homes can get a court to force the town to allow construction it might not otherwise permit, if the town has not adopted an affordable housing plan.

“So, this way you control planning and zoning,” Bayer said. “And a builder/property owner can’t sue us and have their property rezoned for something that’s not intended for it.”

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The income range to qualify for affordable housing in New Jersey varies by region. In Monmouth, which is located in Region 4, the income range is between $27,311 to $171,671, depending on family size.  

Despite the unanimous vote, the resolution came with a statement that the approval came “under protest,” meaning that the committee did not fully agree with the requirements of New Jersey’s affordable housing law. The township’s attorney, Michael Collins noted that the township is still involved with a lawsuit that involves 27 municipalities, challenging the state’s affordable housing law. A decision to dismiss the case was rescheduled from Jan. 31 to May 9. 

While the state’s Department of Community Affairs calculated Holmdel’s obligation as a prospective need of 133 units over the next 10 years, the township argued that the prospective need should be reduced to 98 units. 

You can see a chart at the end of this story that shows what the state says each town owes in affordable housing units.

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Holmdel agreed with the Department of Community Affairs calculation for 129 present need units, which are reserved for existing units that need to be rehabilitated. 

“Those are not new units. Those are units that could be characterized as not meeting all code standards,” Bayer said. “So, homeowners would be able to apply through the township for a loan or a grant to bring their home up to code.”

Bayer said those repairs would be paid from the township’s affordable housing trust fund. 

On the other hand, prospective need units would result in the building of new housing. 

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In a memo prepared by the planning firm Kyle + McManus Associates for the township, the firm argued that the township actually has only 1.23 acres of developable land. The largest plot of land it considered developable was 0.98 acres and it is located at 33 South Beers St. 

The number of affordable units that a township is obligated to provide is determined by population growth, demographics, income, the value of nonresidential properties and the “land capacity factor.” 

Land capacity factor looks at developable land, and was reduced from 0.76% to 0.01% of the township by the planning firm. With this decrease, the firm argued that Holmdel’s obligation to construct new affordable housing units should be reduced from 133 to 98 units. 

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“That is significant because that’s the affordable housing unit obligation,” Bayer said. 

The most common type of affordable housing has been the building of apartment complexes in which only 20% of apartments are set aside for affordable housing. The other 80% are often market-rate units. 

“By at least starting out and by reducing the obligation by 35 units, that is reducing the total number of potential obligations by 150 units,” Bayer said, adding that the township is looking to apply for a vacant land adjustment. Such an adjustment would allow the township to argue that it does not have enough suitable land for the development of apartment buildings, which would further lower the township’s affordable housing obligation. 

Kendra Lelie, who wrote the planning memo, said the next step included waiting for the state to agree or disagree with the township’s assessment and then putting together a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. That plan would outline what land would be rezoned to allow for affordable housing.

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Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.



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Dan Levy’s new Netflix comedy ‘Big Mistakes’ was filmed at these New Jersey locations

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Dan Levy’s new Netflix comedy ‘Big Mistakes’ was filmed at these New Jersey locations


Filming Big Mistakes in New Jersey was no mistake at all.

The Netflix comedy series, which debuted earlier this month, has already hit the streaming service’s Global Top 10 English TV List, making it one of the most-watched shows out right now.

As per Netflix, the comedy series co-created, executive produced, written and starring Emmy winner Dan Levy, follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organized crime. Blackmailed into increasingly dangerous assignments, they clumsily fail upwards, sinking deeper into chaos they’re ill-equipped to handle. The dark comedy, which has only eight episodes, has a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes so far. 

RECOMMENDED: Where was ‘Beef’ season 2 filmed? Behind the locations of the dark Netflix comedy

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Set in the fictional New Jersey suburb of Glenview, the series was fittingly filmed primarily in numerous towns and cities in New Jersey, including Caldwell, Cranford, Franklin Lakes, Irvington, Jersey City, Union, Warren and Weehawken for a total of 40 filming locations. (The cartel storyline in Episode 7 was shot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where its coastline and architecture doubled as Miami’s waterfront, luxury estates and yacht life.)

“I’ve really enjoyed shooting in New Jersey,” location manager Mia Thompson said. “We have quite a number of recurring locations that have all just been wonderful—not only the home owners, but the business owners, the towns, the local police, the local fire departments, the town clerks. It’s been a really great experience.”

More than 300 cast and crew and 500 vendors took part in the production. Ortega, who plays Morgan, is actually a New Jersey native and was surprised to film in her backyard.

“It was surreal getting to film in my home state,” she said. “I grew up in New Jersey and was obsessed with film and television and never thought I’d be returning home for such a major project and moment in my life.”

The show filmed the scenes at Morelli’s Hardware, run by Nicky and Morgan’s mom (Laurie Metcalf), at Edison Millwork & Hardware, a more than 50-year-old, family-owned hardware store in Edison.

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Photograph: Spencer Pazer, courtesy Netflix | Big Mistakes filmed at a mom-and-pop hardware store in New Jersey

“It’s one of the few mom and pop hardware stores that are left anywhere, really, so it was really great to find this location that fits very perfectly with our story,” Thompson said.

The show was also filmed at Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn—the backdrop for Nicky’s day job as a pastor and his living space. 

Big Mistakes filmed at a real church in New Jersey. Dan Levy is pictured behind the camera in his pastor costume
Photograph: Spencer Pazer, courtesy Netflix | Big Mistakes filmed at a real church in New Jersey

“We’ve utilized every inch of space of that church inside and out,” said Thompson. “They’ve enjoyed the experience just as much as we have.”

Other spots they filmed at include Deerfield School, Essex County Airport, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Hatfield Swamp, Springfield Municipal Building and the Crystal Inn in Eatontown.

Big Mistakes on location at the inn
Photograph: Spencer Pazer, courtesy Netflix | Big Mistakes on location at the inn

“One thing about New Jersey is that it’s so diverse. The various neighborhoods offer different kinds of looks and aesthetics,” said Thompson. “You have everything that you could ask for.”

See Jersey in all eight episodes, streaming now on Netflix.



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ACLU featured at Bruce Springsteen No Kings show in New Jersey

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ACLU featured at Bruce Springsteen No Kings show in New Jersey


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There will be No Kings at the Monday, April 20 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show at the Prudential Center in Newark but the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey will be there.

The group will be the “featured organization” for the New Jersey stop of the band’s Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour.

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“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen to advocate for the rights and freedoms that all people deserve,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha in statement. “This moment requires all of us, and we are grateful to Bruce, who is using his platform to fight against authoritarianism and for our rights. We share a love for New Jersey and a desire to make the Garden State safer and freer for everyone who calls it home. Our team is thrilled to connect with everyone who shares our mission to protect and defend civil liberties, and who knows the power that art and music have to change the world.”

Springsteen said the American Dream is under attack by “our wannabe king and his rogue government” when he announced the tour on Feb. 17. Promotional posters for the tour features the phrase “No Kings,” a reflection of the national anti-President Donald Trump protests that have taken place in the last year.

The tour kickoff was March 31 at the Target Center in Minneapolis and it included 27 songs over three hours. The show also featured some direct talk from Springsteen on the state of the country. The setlist included the newly composed “Streets of Minneapolis,” written after the fatal shooting by federal agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti of Minneapolis in January.

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ACLU-NJ representatives will be at the Prudential Center to talk to concertgoers about its work. The American Civil Liberties Union previously released an ad with the Springsteen classic “Born in the U.S.A.” featured on the eve of the Supreme Court case where the ACLU is challenging the President Trump’s executive order attempting to overturn the current interpretation of 14th Amendment, which grants automatic citizenship to those born in the U.S. regardless of their parents’ legal status.

Visit www.aclu-nj.org for more info on the ACLU-NJ.

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com



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NJ Lottery Pick-3, Pick-4, Cash 5, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for Sunday, April 19

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The New Jersey Lottery offers multiple draw games for people looking to strike it rich.

Here’s a look at April 19, 2026, results for each game:

Pick-3

Midday: 8-7-3, Fireball: 9

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Evening: 5-0-8, Fireball: 0

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick-4

Midday: 4-7-7-9, Fireball: 9

Evening: 5-9-7-8, Fireball: 0

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Jersey Cash 5

20-25-35-38-45, Xtra: 35

Check Jersey Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Quick Draw

Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.

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Cash Pop

Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the New Jersey Lottery drawings held?

  • Pick-3: 12:59 p.m. and 10:57 p.m. daily.
  • Pick-4: 12:59 p.m. and 10:57 p.m. daily.
  • Jersey Cash 5: 10:57 p.m. daily.
  • Pick-6: 10:57 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Jersey Sr Breaking News Editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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