Council plans affordable housing advisory committee as fourth-round housing deadlines loom

Mayor Dodd told the council he and a council colleague are forming an affordable housing advisory committee to convene twice a month initially and to advise the city on the state's fourth-round obligations. He described a proposed committee composition that would include the mayor, a councillmember, the planning board, zoning board representation, the municipal housing liaison, legal counsel, and two or more public members.

The mayor outlined the compliance timeline: adopt a binding resolution committing to fourth-round obligations by Jan. 31, 2025; allow parties to challenge the obligation by Feb. 28; resolve challenges by March 31; and have the municipal planning/land use board adopt the fourth-round housing element and fair share plan by June 30, 2025. "By 01/31/2025, we will be required to adopt a binding resolution stipulating to a fourth round obligation," he said.

Councilmembers discussed forming a smaller subcommittee to analyze DCA's methodology and advised engaging professionals and nonprofits when pursuing small-site scattered-site funding opportunities; one member noted recent $10,000,000 awards to Ocean City and Cape May as examples. Councilmembers agreed to post a community information guide to the affordable housing web page and to convene the advisory committee in January.