Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick criticized the Township Council majority after it voted against a key component of the township’s proposed affordable housing plan, arguing the decision could affect the municipality’s strategy for meeting its affordable housing obligations.
The proposal rejected by the council involved the Jamestown redevelopment project, which would have included 42 affordable housing units in an area that is already primarily developed with apartment housing. According to the mayor’s office, the project was intended to concentrate affordable housing in an existing high-density area while limiting impacts on established residential neighborhoods.
Rodrick said his administration negotiated an affordable housing settlement that reduced the township’s obligation from more than 1,800 affordable housing units to approximately 250 newly constructed units. Under the proposal, about 200 units would be built in two fully affordable housing developments, 42 units would be located at the Jamestown redevelopment site, and the remaining units would be constructed along Route 37.
In a statement, Rodrick said the council’s decision could increase the likelihood of larger residential developments, including proposed downtown apartment towers, rather than the administration’s preferred approach.
The mayor also responded to criticism from Councilman Dave Ciccozzi regarding communication between the administration and the Township Council. Rodrick disputed those claims, stating that his office made multiple attempts to communicate with council members through phone calls, emails, and text messages, and said those communications are documented.
Rodrick also announced that future affordable housing proposals will be presented to the Township Council as a single comprehensive package rather than as separate components. He said the change is intended to prevent negotiated agreements from being altered in a manner that could increase the risk of a builder’s remedy lawsuit.
The Township Council has not publicly responded to Rodrick’s latest statements.
I agree with council. Unfortunately, that area is well known for harboring criminal activity due to gang activity, drugs as well as illegal immigrant populations. In this area, there is an elementary school and daycare, among other family activity institutions. It’s not to say ALL folks living there are bad or criminal, just that it has been a draw for other negative activity. There are many, many families who do need housing and work very hard to keep their families safe. The area is already chock full of complexes and doesn’t need more. More traffic, more busing, more need for already stretched thin resources. While we do need more affordable housing, maybe what they need is a different area, not so concentrated with issues. Also Jamestown Apartments are fairy old and could use refurbishment. Don’t regular working people deserve a decent, safe, updated place to live with their families? They are also NOT so affordable to a single parent home with lock key kids. No Mayor, it is not a good idea.