New Jersey
Warren County mayors respond to N.J. affordable housing guide for 2025
Municipalities in New Jersey now know exactly how many new affordable housing units they are expected to authorize over the next decade, according to a recent report.
Roughly 2,800 units are required to be built or rehabilitated by 2035 in Warren County. (See the numbers for each Warren County town below.)
The data provided by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs shows the responsibility for affordable housing units in every municipality in the county will increase in 2025. Greenwich Township tops the list with the largest responsibility (360 units).
Two affordable housing projects are in the pipeline. Greenwich Dumont Urban Renewal Associates LLC has promised 66 affordable units along Dumont Road in a project called The Willows at Greenwich, part of Ingerman Family Communities; and a project called Furhman could bring 64 units to the township, a clerk said..
White Township (322 units) and Allamuchy Township (281) have second and third highest responsibilities. The most densely populated town in Warren County, Phillipsburg, has a responsibility to provide 75 affordable units, according to the report. The town currently has the largest share of affordable housing units in the county.
Mayor Randy Piazza said he has no doubt the town will meet its responsibilities.
The calculations include two types of affordable housing obligations — “present need” and “prospective need.” Prospective need refers to creating new affordable housing, while present need means renovating existing affordable housing that has been deemed “substandard.” The numbers below are shown to represent present to prospective need.
The state also looked at the median income in each town and assessed the open space, existing homes and other factors to calculate municipalities’ responsibility.
The numbers below do not mean municipalities need to build affordable housing themselves but, municipalities must zone for builders to propose construction of the housing.
Warren County
Allamuchy Township, from zero to 281
Alpha Borough, from four to 58
Belvidere, from 20 to 131
Blairstown Township, from zero to 65
Franklin Township, from 32 to 95
Frelinghuysen Township, from zero to 156
Greenwich Township, from zero to 360
Hackettstown, from 87 to 105
Hardwick Township, from zero to 29
Harmony Township, from four to 71
Hope Township, from zero to 31
Independence Township, from six to 65
Knowlton Township, from four to 32
Liberty Township, from 25 to 35
Lopatcong Township, from zero to 87
Mansfield Township, from seven to 418
Oxford Township, from zero to 54
Phillipsburg, from 21 to 75
Pohatcong Township, from zero to 65
Washington Borough, from zero to 27
Washington Township, from 31 to 181
White Township, from 100 to 322
The guidelines follow a new law (S50) signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in March, which standardizes obligations for municipalities throughout the state to build more housing units. It also gives towns more protection from lawsuits that aim to stop affordable housing from being built.
The requirements are part of the state’s fourth round of affordable housing obligations under the Mount Laurel Doctrine, which refers to a series of landmark state Supreme Court decisions that outlawed exclusionary zoning practices and required all towns in New Jersey to provide their fair share of the region’s affordable housing.
The state Department of Community Affairs released non-binding calculations Friday on the number of affordable homes in the state’s 564 municipalities.
The obligations are recalculated every 10 years in cycles known as rounds. Each municipality’s obligations are calculated by looking at various factors, including job growth, existing affordable housing and the growth of low- and moderate-income households.
Urban municipalities’ obligations often include higher “present need” numbers because they’ve historically produced more affordable housing than suburban municipalities, the Fair Share Housing Center said.
The state Department of Community Affairs also announced it is launching NJ Housing Opportunities for Municipal Equity and Success, called NJHOMES, early next year. The initiative provides for financial resources, technical assistance and other tools to help municipalities develop affordable housing in their communities.
Municipalities are expected to have plans submitted to the state by Jan. 31.
After this, Pohatcong Township will be out of developable land and sewer allotments, said Mayor David Slack. The township now has three affordable housing projects in the pipeline. Larken Living Apartments is expected to open its affordable units before the end of the year, he said.
Frelinghuysen Township contributes fewer than a dozen affordable housing units to the county’s total, consisting mostly of long term care and group homes. Developers haven’t shown interest in developing apartments in the area, said Mayor Keith Ramos. The township is down for planning 156 more units before 2035.
“I don’t know that 283 is an achievable number, but I would need more info before making that judgment,” Ramos said. “It’s clear that no matter what the numbers the goal post is not set at zero.”
Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads. Brianna Kudisch contributed to this report.
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New Jersey
Blizzard causes heavy damage to New Jersey animal refuge
A New Jersey animal shelter is asking for the public’s help after last month’s blizzard did heavy damage to its property in Ocean County.
On social media, Popcorn Park Animal Refuge posted a video and described the fury of the storm. saying that the blizzard “caused unexpected damage… impacting habitats, fencing, structures, and critical infrastructure.”
The nonprofit animal haven says its team “worked tirelessly to keep every animal safe during the storm,” however, “the aftermath has left us facing urgent repairs and significant financial strain.”
Photo: Popcorn Park Animal Refuge
The refuge says this winter has been “especially challenging.” It says “repeated severe weather has forced extended closures to the public, further limiting vital support and creating an added burden during an already difficult recovery period,” adding “we need our community now more than ever.”
Popcorn Park was established in 1977, according to its website. It’s part of the Associated Humane Societies — which bills itself as New Jersey’s largest animal welfare organization. Popcorn Park describes itself as “a sanctuary for abandoned, injured, ill, exploited, abused, or elderly farm animals, birds, and wildlife (domestic and exotic).”
New Jersey
Natural Daylight Time: What is it, and why New Jersey should adapt this practice instead
We’re now officially less than a week before we spring forward in New Jersey, and everyone has an opinion on it. The clock change, by the way, will happen on Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026. We’ll essentially skip the 2 a.m. hour and gain the extra hour of daylight in the evening.
But the reality is, we don’t gain a thing when we do this. We’re so conditioned to believe we gain sunlight, but all we’re doing is shifting the clocks. Animals don’t do this, and are unaffected by what a clock says.
ALSO READ: Snow vs. no snow: How most in NJ feel after latest blizzard
Our pets, on the other hand, are forced to change with our practice of doing this. It really is an outdated practice, but we can’t stop it just like that simply because we’ll either complain about it being too dark during winter mornings under daylight saving, or getting dark too soon during summer nights under standard time.
It should be a lot simpler. And for those of us in New Jersey, it can be. Here’s what I think we should do.
Time clocks calendar thumbs up green check approve sunrise sunset
Leave the clock, adjust our day
When I worked on a golf course, all we did was adjust when we came in based on when the sun came up. During the longer days, we started at 6 a.m. And when the sunrise was later than 6 a.m., we adjusted our start time to 7 a.m.
Why can’t we just do this when it comes to work and school? Leave the clocks in standard time since that’s the one truly aligned with the Earths rotation. During the winter, make the regular workday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., then adjust it to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the summer. It’s just that simple.
In other words, we’d be following Natural Daylight Time. Just get rid of the clock change, and adjust our day based on the sunrise. Problem solved.
Final flakes: When does snow season end in NJ?
Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow
Significant or historical events in New Jersey for March (in chronological order)
Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander
The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.
New Jersey
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware lawmakers react to U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran
The United States and Israel announced a major military assault against Iran Saturday morning, sending shockwaves through the Middle East. The massive aerial attack killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Trump says “heavy and pinpoint bombing” of Iran will continue for as long as necessary.
The strikes sparked demonstrations in Philadelphia and across the country. Reaction from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey lawmakers to Operation Epic Fury was swift.
Pennsylvania lawmakers react
CBS News Philadelphia was at an event Saturday night at Villanova University with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
While the governor didn’t have time to take our questions, he said in a statement:
“In going to war with Iran, the President has not adequately explained why this war is urgent now, what this military campaign may look like, or what the strategic objective is.”
Both Pennsylvania senators expressed views of support for the strike.
Republican Dave McCormick released a statement, writing: “They (Iran) are the world’s number one sponsor of terror. The president has given the ayatollahs a chance for a deal, and they have rejected a path to peace and prosperity.”
Democrat John Fetterman posted on social media: “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”
Delaware senator shares concern
Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware is concerned the move by the Trump administration further destabilizes the region.
“I’m hopeful that this phase of war will come to a quick conclusion,” Coons said over a Zoom interview with CBS News Philadelphia. “I’m alarmed President Trump launched a full spectrum war against Iran with our ally Israel without meaningfully consulting the American people.”
New Jersey lawmakers split on strikes
New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, a democrat, called the attack an appalling action by the president.
“He literally called this a war and said American lives could be lost and to be able to do this with justification, no congressional authorization, and most importantly American people don’t want this.”
South Jersey Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew arguing the attack removed a critical threat to national security:
“What we are witnessing now is a decisive response to years of aggression. The leadership of the world’s largest state sponsor of terror has been dealt a powerful blow. We killed one of the most evil men in the world….”
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