Robbinsville will continue to be protected from "builder's remedy" lawsuits until next June
File photo of Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried ROBBINSVILLE -- Robbinsville will continue to be protected from "builder's remedy" lawsuits until next June after a judge last week ruled in its favor, officials said Monday.
A builder's remedy allows developers to sue to override local zoning laws and construct four units of market-rate housing for every unit of low-income housing.
Under the calculations that advocacy group Fair Share Housing Center commissioned for how much affordable housing each town should be responsible for, Robbinsville would have to build 1,000 units by 2025 -- a number, officials say, could result in 4,000 additional market-rate units.
Mayor Dave Fried said such a number would flood an already overburdened school system and lead to an unsustainable tax hike in a town that is almost built-out.
State Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson initially granted the township a five-month immunity from the lawsuits until Dec. 8 and last Wednesday accepted the recommendation of a court-appointed special master.
"By accepting the Special Master's recommendation, we once again thank Judge Jacobson for her acknowledgement of Robbinsville's continued efforts to provide its fair share of affordable housing," Fried said. "We will continue to meet our lawful affordable housing requirements until a final determination is reached by the court."
In 2009, the town was approved by the Council on Affordable Housing to build 317 affordable-housing units, Fried said.
"Our goal ... is to continue to provide existing and new affordable housing in Robbinsville to a realistically attainable number at a sustainable and feasible pace based on the existing conditions in the township," he said.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
