In a move that would help provide more money for affordable housing, the Bayonne City Council discussed two ordinances its Feb. 9 caucus meeting to help collect fees from developers.
One was an attempt to comply with state regulations requiring developers to contribute money toward affordable housing based on the number of units they build. Another ordinance would set criteria for “developer impact fees” to the town.
The theory behind “developer impact fees” is that large development has an impact on the community, requiring additional services that might not otherwise be expended. For example, families moving into housing bring kids who attend the local schools and use the parks and other facilities. Development fees for these expenses are put into a trust fund until needed.
At the same time as it considers these new ordinances, Bayonne is seeking to come up with a plan that would project how many units for low- and moderate-income housing the city must provide over the next decade.
New state regulations went into effect as of Jan. 1 requiring one unit of affordable housing for every eight units built.
This could include new housing units or the rehabilitation of existing apartments, including those in buildings run by the federally funded Bayonne Housing Authority. Since 1996, the city has met its requirement of providing 220 units.
The new numbers, however, are still uncertain. In past, the state set a number of required units.
Under the provisions set by the state Council on Affordable Housing, municipalities are allowed to collect fees from upcoming projects to be put towards establishing and maintaining affordable housing. If a builder does not include the units in his own projects, he could pay money toward development elsewhere. The money could go into a development fund until it is used.
Under new state regulations, commercial developments also must provide affordable housing money. The state formula says one unit will have to be provided for every 25 jobs created. This would be based on the physical size of the project, estimating that every 8,000 square feet will create one job.
This would have a huge impact on Bayonne with two redevelopment zones planned and the eventual redevelopment of the Military Ocean Terminal, the Texaco property, Standard Tank, and the Drogin Bus company property.
The ordinances were to be introduced at the Feb. 16 council meeting could also help the city offset additional costs.
Soccer fields viewed for west side property
Councilman Ted Connolly said he has met with residents of the North Street area who would like to see vacant property near Avenue A used for soccer fields.
The city council will vote to seek state Green Acres funding for the project. The fields would be for day use only. The city is seeking to purchase the property from Cutting Edge – a development company that has proposed using the lot for condos.
Connolly, who is also on the planning board which reviewed the project, said the cost for construction and purchase would likely be around $750,000.
“I expect to deliver a full report at the next (Feb. 16) meeting,” Connolly said.
Out on the streets
In other news, the City Council will hold a public hearing on an ordinance that would establish rules on regulating traffic and installing traffic control devices throughout the city.
This is the result of changes in state legislation passed early last month permitting cities to install most traffic control devices, such as stop signs (but excluding traffic lights), without prior approval from the state Department of Transportation.
This reduces the time and expense required in the past to get such devices installed, since previously the city needed to perform studies to justify the need to the state.
Up for public hearing on Feb. 16 was a proposed capital budget ordinance to reconstruct and resurface various streets in the city, appropriating $400,000 from the New Jersey DOT FY 2005 Municipal Aid program to pay for work scheduled to being in the spring.
The council was expected to vote to acknowledge appointments made by Mayor Joseph Doria to the Historic Preservation Commission. These include the reappointment of Mary Kinahan-Ockay and Lee Fahley, the appointment of Eric Lobel to fill the unexpired term of Robert Burrows, the appointment of Debra Czerwienski, and the appointment of Elizabeth Mohammed as an alternate.
The council is also expected to award a contract for sports lighting at the 16th Street Ball Court to Lucas Electric Co. Inc, of Windsor, N.J. for $43,115.
The council is expected to approve a change order with Extell Communications, Inc, of North Haledon for $1,972. Police Chief Police Chief Robert Kubert said the original bid did not take into account the purchase of a new computer to handle some of the programs and the installation of a new phone in the Parking Authority meeting room in City Hall.
Contact Al Sullivan at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com