New Jersey
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.
New Jersey
Though down from previous month, New Jersey online casinos post November revenue record in 2025
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While online casinos in New Jersey fell short of another revenue record, November was still the state’s second-best month ever with over $253 million.
They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.
NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left
Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.
With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.
To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.
While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.
FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace
While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.
For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.
Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.
New Jersey
Ice, freezing rain alerts expand to 10 N.J. counties. Wind advisory issued for 50 mph gusts Monday.
Winter weather advisories have been expanded to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain that could cause a dangerous layer of ice tonight.
The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for 16 counties Monday with up to 50 mph gusts possible.
The more immediate concern is freezing rain already hitting the state Sunday evening.
Winter weather advisories for Bergen, Essex, Hudson Passaic and Union counties expire between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Winter weather advisories for Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties take effect at 6 p.m. and run through 2 a.m.
As temperatures remain near or below freezing across northern New Jersey this evening, precipitation will fall as freezing rain, particularly in Warren and Morris counties where a glaze to one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation is possible.
The National Weather Service warns that even areas outside the advisory that remain near freezing at the onset of precipitation could experience localized icing, especially on shaded surfaces that have remained below freezing for more than 36 hours.
Temperatures will rise above freezing areawide during the pre-dawn hours Monday as a warm front lifts through the region, changing any remaining freezing rain to plain rain.
A brief break in the rain is likely prior to daybreak Monday.
The warm front will be quickly followed by a strong cold front Monday afternoon, bringing another period of rain that may be moderate in intensity at times.
High temperatures Monday will reach the upper 40s along the coast before the cold front passes, bringing high winds to the area.
The wind advisory for 16 counties runs from 10 a.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Just Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties are not under wind advisories.
“Strong westerly winds develop Monday with wind gusts up to 50 mph and a wind advisory has been issued,” the weather service said Sunday evening. “Some tree damage and power outages possible.”
Tuesday will be markedly colder with high temperatures struggling to rise above freezing even at the Jersey Shore.
Wind chills in the teens and low 20s are expected during the day.
Skies will be partly cloudy with continued gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph.
Wednesday brings slightly milder conditions with highs in the mid 30s to near 40 degrees, though it remains well below normal for late December.
The extended forecast shows below-normal temperatures continuing through the end of the week and into the New Year.
Thursday may bring a chance of snow showers as a weak cold front passes through, though accumulations are expected to be light.
Friday looks dry with highs in the low to mid 30s.
Another weather system may impact the area late next weekend, potentially bringing a mix of rain and snow, though forecast confidence remains low for that timeframe.
Current weather radar
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One person was killed and another critically injured when two helicopters collided and crash-landed in Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday morning, authorities said.
The Hammonton Police Department told Fox News Digital that it received calls of an aviation crash at approximately 11:25 a.m. involving two helicopters in the area of the 100 block of Basin Road.
Police, fire and EMS responded, extinguishing one helicopter that was engulfed in flames.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will investigate the crash, police said.
MIDAIR PLANE CRASH KILLS ONE PERSON NEAR COLORADO AIRPORT AS BOTH PLANES CATCH FIRE
Two helicopters collided Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Hammonton, N.J. (WTXF)
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way wrote on X that she has been updated on the midair collision.
The site of a deadly helicopter collision in Hammonton, N.J., on Dec. 28, 2025. (WTXF)
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“The Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Hammonton Police Department, and @NJSP personnel are on the scene,” she said.
This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.
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