Adequate notice of this meeting was provided and published in the Asbury Park Press and the Ocean Star on January 16, 2026. Copies of the agenda were provided to the newspaper, posted on public bulletin boards in the township website. >> I will now ask for a roll call. >> Councilman Albanese
>> here. >> Councilman Makino >> here. >> Councilwoman Reena >> here. >> Councilman Cohen >> here. >> Councilwoman Travers >> here. >> Vice President Amberino >> here. >> President Feman >> here. >> Thank you. At this point, I'd like to invite Troop 61178
up front to lead us in a pledge of allegiance mo uh followed by a moment of silence. So, you'd like to come up now, please. All right, whenever you're ready. >> I pledge algiance >> to the flag of the United States of
America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Well done. Thank you so much. Please be seated. >> Good job, girls.
All right. Now, I'm going to ask for a motion and a second to approve the minutes from the February 24th, 2026 meeting. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Roll call. >> Councilman Albany. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Reena,
>> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Amarcino, >> yes. >> President Feman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And so we do have two proclamations that we're going to be presenting tonight. I'm going to invite
Mayor Crate to the lectern for the very first one and then I'll join you for the second one. >> Good evening everyone. So excited to be here this evening. I would like to call up the coaches for the Brick Bulldog softball tenu team. If they can come up
the coaches, >> congratulations. What are you laughing about? What are you laughing about? The Township of Brick has earned a reputation as having outstanding youth sports programs that are renowned for not only their success on the field, but
for the sportsmanship that they instill in our young people. One sports program that is contributing a great deal to that reputation is Brick Bulldogs girls softball. The Brick Bulldogs 10U team plays in the Central New Jersey Girls
softball league, a highly competitive program of teams throughout the region. This year, the Brick Bulldog tenu team added their own chapter to Brick Township storied history of youth sports programs by capturing the spring 2025
bronze championship and the fall 2025 silver division championships. So, I would like to congratulate all the girls on the team, all of our coaches, and I would like to proclaim as mayor of the township of brick in the county of ocean in the state of New Jersey in
honor of their many achievements on the field, including their winning the Central New Jersey Girls Softball League spring 2025 bronze championship and fall 2025 silver uh silver division championship. ship do hereby proclaim
tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, to be Brick Bulldog's 10U team day here in Brick Township. So, I'm going to present each coach with a proclamation of their own, and then I'm going to ask one of the coaches uh
to come up. We'd like to have each girl come up to also receive a certificate. So, If you would like to do the >> name and come on up when you hear your name. >> All right. Grace Perick,
>> Valentina Gomez. >> Oh, girls. Come up here. Sorry, >> Emma Brantley, >> Isabella Pagan, >> Charlotte Gwids, charge it. Madison McMahon,
>> Annie Reno, >> Skyler Zelnock, >> Haley Zelnock, who's not present. Yeah. Samantha Soka. She's not here. She's not here. Brier Scott, >> Ella McKelie,
>> be careful. And Sage Rossy. And then not with us tonight are Marie Jockan, Liliana Lesnik, and Haley Zelnock. And you're welcome to come up. >> I'm gonna go first. I'm
>> Are we all in You're You want to do your Do you want to do the rotation? What do you want to do? It's up to you. >> I'll Okay. And then put you be in the picture and you want to Okay. All right. We have one more
presentation. >> I would uh like to please call up representative from our Meals on Wheels Ocean County, Heather D. Young. Good to see you. So, we've got some impressive stats here to share with Brick Township.
On March n uh March 22nd, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national public private nutrition program for individuals 60 and older.
For over 50 years, this law has supported our nation's seniors and helped to fund community-based organizations such as Meals on Wheels of Ocean County and is still the only federal program designed to meet the nutritional and social needs of older
adults. Meals on Wheels of Ocean County provides nutritious meals both through home delivery and at community cafes throughout Ocean County and helps older residents maintain their health and independence.
In 2025, Meals on Wheels of Ocean County served over 240,000 meals, including over 35,000 delivered to Brick Township residents and over 3,900 served at Community Cafe at Brick
Senior Center. The senior population is increasing substantially and action is needed now to support local Meals on Wheels programs through federal, state, and local funding donations and raising awareness to ensure these vital services can continue to be delivered for years
to come. Meals on Wheels programs from across the country are joining together for the hash lunch campaign this March to celebrate their collective success and to generate the support needed to ensure that these critical programs can
continue to address food insecurity and malnutrition combat social isolation and loneliness enable independence and improve health outcomes. Therefore, I, Lisa Crate, mayor of the township of Brick in the County of Ocean in the state of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim
March 2026 to be Meals on Wheels of Ocean County Month here in Brick Township. And I call upon residents not only to extend their warmest gratitude and appreciation to Meals on Wheels, but to become aware of possible people in your community that may um be benefit
from this service and to keep an eye out for them because our senior services will gladly help them get on board with Meals on Wheels. So congratulations to everyone that works with this program and thank you Heather. So, my name is Heather. I'm the director of advancement and engagement of Meals
on Wheels. I want to thank the mayor and the council and the administration for all of their hard work that they do with our program. We are so very grateful for the senior services that Brick Township has here. Because of Brick Township, we
delivered in 2025 over 37,000 meals to over to 259 homebound and in individuals over 60 that are unable to prepare the meals themselves. We deliver 1,000 meals every day to our
seniors throughout Ocean County. And all we ask of them is a $3 voluntary donation for those meals. In 2025, we did not receive 53% of those donations,
which means our seniors are hurting financially. They cannot afford a $3 donation per meal. If they get five meals, that's $15 per week. And what that means to our organization is over
four $400,000 in just $3 donations from our meals. So why are we here? We are celebrating our senior nutrition and all that we are able to offer for our for our seniors.
Brick Township is one of the only senior services that helps Meals on Wheels. They deliver and they go into our homes and do the intakes and assessments to make sure that our seniors are living
safe and well. They do that to make sure that they are not only receiving the meals on wheel services, but also that they are safe, that they have utility help that they need, any type of health insurance or any type of for property
tax reimbursements. They are there for our seniors every single day. And what that means is more meals on wheels is more than meals. We deliver a community care and connection. We just don't leave
the meal on the doorstep. We have to physically see our senior neighbors to make sure that they are safe. We just had major snow here, you know, couple weeks ago, a couple major storms. And but what we did, we made sure our
neighbors were going in and checking on them, but also we make sure that we see them every single day. We had one um driver, he couldn't get to the door. The lady had a crate. She pushed the crate out to it, tied a string. Our driver
dropped a meal in it and they tied it back. We care about about our seniors and we want to make sure that they are living safe and well independently where they are most comfortable. So again, I want to thank Brick and the administration for this honor and we
appreciate all the help that you all give us. Thank you. Yeah. I found you. He's right there. uniform and >> all right. So, last chance. Now's the time to leave if you're interested in
leaving. and we're going to uh jump into uh some budget presentations. So, first up from the Department of Public Works, I'd like to introduce Steve Kovski. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks for this opportunity to
present a brief overview of the Department of Public Works, which includes road crew, solid waste collection and recycling, buildings and grounds, and vehicle maintenance. The sanitation department makes more than 2.7 million stops per year to residents homes. In 2025, we collected
38,158 tons of solid waste. Salary and wage budget for sanitation has decreased in large part due to the separation from roads out of the sanitation budget, making roads its own department. The operating budget increased only by
$13,425. The sanitation department is proud to serve our residents and takes great pride in serving Brick Township. The township recycling program has resulted in 7,23 tons of recycling in 2025. In addition, 10,110
cubic yards of brush and 7,293 cubic yards of leaves. Road crew does an outstanding job year round. This year their salary and wage and operating budget have been bifurcated from sanitation enabling the crew to remain dedicated strictly to
road crew work and the budget allocated accordingly. Along with all the drainage repairs and replacement, the crew also fills potholes, fixes sink holes, and seals cracks in the streets. The 13 employees on the road crew do everything. They operate the street sweeper, jetack, fill potholes, complete
necessary drainage project, and mill and pave bad sections of the road. They also take care of the township parking lots and our public beaches and immediately respond as needed for brush and tree removal following weather events. Buildings and grounds employees complete a significant list of projects that
would cost significantly more to outsource. The buildings and grounds crews ensure the functionality of all township properties including town hall, DPW, civic plaza, the senior center, Havens farms, DMS buildings and more. The buildings and grounds salary and
wage budget increased by 7.4%. The oper the operating budget increased by 8.4% as we look to fund more in the operating as opposed to extending it over several years through capital bonds. In this budget, variances are more
common and are based on the year's projects at hand. Vehicle maintenance includes eight exceptional mechanics, two supervisors, and a shopkeeper. They service more than 300 vehicles for the township, including all sanitation trucks, dump trucks, plows, sanders,
police vehicles, ambulances, boats, and also heavy equipment. The salary and wage budget for vehicle maintenance increased by 4.4% 4% and the operating budget increased due to actual expenditures from last year for items such as ambulances, maintenance, motor
vehicle parts and repairs to repair cars and trucks and repairs for loaders, back hose, hydraulic pistons, and postlift inspections. This amount is subject to fluctuate based on the fleet and its needed repairs. The township sign shop has two staff
members who manufacture install hundreds of signs annually and lettering of all township vehicles. Last but not least are the professional and knowledgeable office staff that operate the call center at DPW. The call center consists of four exceptional employees who answered 103 103,524
calls in 2025 from residents to assist them with their request. Again, I'd like to thank the mayor Lisa Crate, the administration, and the council for their continued support. >> Thank you so much. Uh, next I'd like to introduce from the parks department,
Robert Burns. >> Well done. On behalf of the parks department, I'd like to take a moment to thank Mayor Crate, business administrator Joanne Bergen, council president, vice president, and council for the continued leadership. I am pleased to present the parks
department budget for 2026. The parks department is a division underneath the Department of Public Works. are 18 full-time employees, one part-time, and additional seasonal employees oversee township parks, sports fields, grounds, and all township
facilities. These employees maintain 20 parks, 10 basketball courts, eight tennis courts, five pickle ball courts, eight botchi courts, one skate park, one bike and scooter park, three horseshoe pits,
three football fields, 15 soccer fields, two cornhole game areas, six miles of bike trail, 22 softball and baseball fields. We are also responsible for all the playground picnic area maintenance and repairs. We maintain our sports field, including
a 40 acre sports complex at Drum Point. This complex is consistently recognized as one of the best in the state. This year, we'll be renovating Malor Point Park, the playground safety surface at Winward Beach, Trader Cove Marina, as well as the walking paths at Winward
Beach. Our salary and wage budget increased 3.9%. The overall budget increased by 46,300. as we need to be providing additional funds for bamboo removal on township property as well as township as well as
tree removal. We continue to take on more responsibility and efforts to decrease the use of outside contractors. We currently manage 225 irrigation zones with 2,500 plus sprinkler heads. There
are 147 acres of grass fields maintained by the parks department. There are also many uh intersections, roadsides, detention basins maintained by the parks department. In addition, we maintain all township owned properties such as town hall, civic center, senior center, and
cultural arts center. One of our most time consuming tasks is our annual fall and spring leaf collection. This process takes approximately 10 weeks in the fall, begins at the end of October until the second week in January.
We then immediately move into Christmas tree collection for three weeks. Spring leaf collection begins in April for approximately three weeks. Throughout the year, we pick up brush leaves, deliver and repair township automated cans, complete tax lans issued by the
township code enforcement department. Outside of our daily maintenance of all the above mentioned areas, we also oversee lake management, fertilization program, solar field maintenance, and synthetic field cleaning. The parks department plays a key role in
all township events. Whether it be be tournaments at Drum Point Sports Complex, Summerfest, rabies clinic, or farmers market. We assist in any way necessary to make sure all events run smoothly and safely. The department continues to take on more
responsibility as we move forward in the renovation of our parks. We look forward to the challenge and will continue to work hard in keeping them safe and enjoyable for all of the brick residents. On behalf of the parks department and employees, I would again like to thank Mayor Crate, business administrator,
township council for all their continued support and efforts. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Oh, you want that? >> All right, put your hands together for the recreation department. Um, I'd
like to introduce Matt Fagen. Thanks, Matt. >> Thank you. Good evening. I'd like to begin by thanking Mayor Crate, Council President Fineman, Vice President Amber Zenino, members of Township Council, and administration for allowing me the opportunity to present the 2026
recreation budget. The Bricktownship Recreation Department is responsible for the coordination of recreational, sports, and cultural programs for citizens throughout the year. The mission of Bricktownship Recreation Department is to improve the quality of life for all Bricktownship citizens
through the provisions of highquality recreational facilities and a wide variety of programs that promote a healthy and enriching lifestyle and a greater sense of community while enhancing the social, cultural, and physical well-being of citizens and visitors of Bricktownship.
In 2026, recreation is very excited for the launch of several new programs, including knitting and art classes, along with the returning programs such as girls youth softball, youth basketball, and the challenger program. The recreation department is looking forward to hosting bus trips in 2026.
Currently, there are three planned bus trips for the first with the first being to Turtle Bag Zoo on April 11th. Brick Recreation Summer Camp is already almost at capacity for 2026. This year's summer camp includes many of the popular camp trips returning while also including
some new trips such as the pirate ship, Chef It Up, and the Planetarium with additional trips being added. These are just a few examples of some of the successful programs that recreation will be continuing to create and improve through 2026 and beyond. The recreation
department is proud to offer some of the best events around. What has now become a staple of Brick Township, the Brick Farmers Market, makes its return on May 2nd, running every Saturday through October 3rd with a special Thanksgiving market on November 21st. Summerfest returns this year on July 2nd
with a special America 250th Celebration Summerfest. This Summerfest will have all of the fun and excitement of any other Summerfest. However, it will also include an extra celebration for America's 250th birthday. Fall Fest is back on October 17th with food trucks,
games, and fun activities for families of all ages. What's a holiday season without a holiday themed event? Well, Recreation is excited to announce the brand new holiday themed event, the Mistletoe Market, which will incorporate the annual Christmas tree lighting along with a special along with special
vendors that will make Winward Beach Park feel like a real Christmas village. Recreation also includes supervising beach operations at Brick Ocean Beaches 1, two, and three. Our seasonal lifeguard staff includes around 65 lifeguards and 20 beach badge checkers.
The lifeguards who patrol Brick Beaches are some of the best trained lifeguards at the Jersey Shore. If you're able to get to Brick Beach 3, as the lifeguards begin their workday, you will have the opportunity to see some of their daily training firsthand. Brick Beach 3 will also be the host of a new event in 2026.
After the summer season has ended, Brick Beach 3 will be host to a local summer event. Additional details will be provided in the upcoming months. Traders Cove Marina is anticipating another successful summer in 2026. The marina anticipates that all 97
rentable boat slips will be rented. At this time, over 80 slips have already been rented. Last summer, boat slips generated over $220,000 in revenue. Winter storage included over 145 boats this year, which generated a revenue of
over $122,000. Last year, the boat ramp generated a revenue of over $57,000, while jet ski slips generated $22,000 in revenue. Recreation is responsible for two budgets, which are recreation and beach
and boardwalk operations. I am happy to share with the mayor and council that the recreation operating budget includes a decrease from last year by 4.5% with a 3% increase in salary and wages. The beach and boardwalk operations budget
remains the same. Although recreation's operating budget may have decreased, that does not mean that the recreation staff's roles of keeping true to our department's mission statement and providing exceptional customer service are going to decrease at all. All of the work that goes into our exceptional
programs and events cannot be accomplished without all of their hard work. This year, we will continue to deliver the best services, programs, and events that improve the lives of our community. I'd like to again thank Mayor Crate, the township council, and our business administrator, Joanne Bergen,
for their continuous support of recreation. Their support allows us the opportunity to stay true to our mission statement and have another successful year. Thank you. >> Well done. Thank you all three. Um, now I'd like to open up to council for questions.
Just just a moment. Yeah. Yeah. Um so I'm going to close council seeing no questions. Um and before I do ask the public to come up when you do No, you're cool. When you do come up, please state your name and your address. Uh at this point, I'd like to open it up to the public. I think we have someone already.
You >> Yeah, you go first. Uh this this question is for all >> if you could this question is for all the three managers in the in the in the departments. Uh I just want to say you guys doing a great job. Town brick is always clean, always resentable and the
kids I'm telling you I was a coach for many years. I've been living here since 1980 and I've never had a bad time with any department in the township. But my question for you is this. Okay. And I want want all you guys to
answer my question individually. Okay. It says, "If there are more developments being built in Brick Township, bringing in thousands of more residents, will your budget be able to cover these new developments? Or will we have to
raise taxes to cover your additional costs to run your departments? or do you know any other ways to cover the cost of the thousands of more residents needing your services? >> May I? >> Yes, please, Miss Bergen.
>> Okay. So, thank you for your question. I I don't think that's necessarily something that any one of these guys can answer, so I'm going to hop in. Um, if there are new homes that are built, those are income via property tax that come to us. And your property taxes is what offsets the
services that they provide. So their budgets are based on who we serve now and what we do now. And that would, you know, there's going to be de there's going to be houses that are built between this year and next year and they'll pick those up and Rob will take care of the same amount of parks and Matt will offer the same amount of
recreation programs and if Steve has to pick up more garbage then of course we have more taxes coming in as well. >> But will they have to employ more people to do all these extra work for extra extra you know extra people living? >> Well, we don't we don't do our budgets on potential whatifs. We do our budgets on what's happening at the moment.
>> But but it will happen when you do it. So I'm asking that's budgeted in, >> you know, in the price for >> No, there's no projected budget. >> What about they build apartments? Okay. Because people pay rent. They do not pay taxes. >> But the landlord that owns the building does, >> but you also have to have you have more
people build moving in your in your development with rents, okay? With apartments, >> okay? So it's a lot of people and it's going to be a big heart burden for these guys who are doing a great job. I hate to see that. >> Turn the other way. That's all. >> I'm good. >> And sir, can we please have your name
and address? >> Oh, sorry. My name is Burke Hers. I live at 39 Red Maple Drive, Rick. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. >> Thanks. Thanks for hearing me. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Yes, sir. >> My name is Jim Davies. I I live at uh 11 white Pine Court in Brick. My question
to you, all of you, nothing for you guys. How many people live? How many of you guys live in Bricktown? >> Every single one of us live. >> Every single one of you. >> Yeah. Sir, this is a an opportunity to ask questions about the budget presentation. >> That's what I'm going to do. >> Okay.
>> Okay. How do you expect to put all these housing units in infrastructure that's already stretched? It takes me 45 minutes to get to Drum Point Road. Where are we putting all these people? that >> I don't know if I see the connection in
terms of the budget present. It >> has nothing to do with the budget. >> I'm asking the question I need to ask. >> Right. And we're going to save that for public comments at the very end. >> Okay, good. I I I'll hang. >> Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. >> So, is there anyone else from public in regards to the budget presentations
only? Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. Mike, 2456 Hooper Avenue. I wish to commend all three supervisors for their continuous work. uh by no means are they uh underworked. They're overworked and they do their best and I
never see complaint and I never see lack of professionalism and I see pride but end of the day overworked. So, I think what we need to do is look for ways to not rely upon tax dollars and personnel and we got to find ways to uh create
solutions and I have a solution that maybe you guys want to think of um and tweak and maybe develop and define. I did put in for Mayor Crate's solicitation of voluntary voluntary committees, seven, eight, nine of them in which I was uh not gain entrance. So,
I got a little angst with that. But I have I still don't quit. I still don't give up. Uh lifelong resident of town, third generation uh bricktown resident. So I think I saw this with the snowplow removal as you guys needed
subcontractors and if the provision allows for outside contractors to come aid the city when it needs assistance whether it's weather related, financial related uh and in this instance it would be financial uh assistance. We have just
like we have great personnel employed for brick uh public services and police fire. Um I think we also have the best blueco collar contracting residents throughout the Jersey Shore. And these are people
who have pride. And we used to have when I was a kid we had a different type of pride day. And it was where residents made sure their homes looked good, squared away, neat. that hasn't appeared or even been discussed since Perry Albaneseise and I played on Popcorner
football in the 70s. Okay. But we don't have that anymore. And amongst I don't know your biographies just like you don't know mine other than what I said, but I think the average um resident hasn't been here more than 15
years. So they come from wherever it is they migrated from with a different ethos and a different way in which they see residential lifestyle especially shore community. We're about 40 I think
our city is 40 32 square miles roughly 25 land about seven uh water-based and it's changing rapidly and we have to do what we can do but to get back to
what I suggest maybe we think about when we you guys needed help the cavalry came in with uh subcontractors and to go out and have to rebuild the park because parks and recreation only has 18 full-time employees, one part-time guy, and whatever, whatever,
whatever. There's too much to take care of, just like my property is too much for me to take care of by myself. Um, but I find a way to do it, but I'm getting older. Okay. Um, Mr. Burns maybe could reach out and find
some of our contractors that are maybe slow or can work into their uh time. A week here, two days here, rebuild Malard Park. Okay, Malard Point Park. A carpenter comes in, a plumber comes in, an electrician comes in. They're not getting paid. They understand it.
They've been vetted, they're insured, they're licensed, they're bonded, everything Consumer Affairs Trenton requires of contractors that are legitimate. They come in, they give their civic duty to the city because they have pride without attending any type of parade. They just care about
where they come home to and they want to see this city come back to where it should be. Have the best waterfront of Ocean County. And that's really all we're showing because all the other stuff is aging out or different people are coming in and that the the the maintenance and the personal pride of
ownership or rentorship or occupancy is not what it once was. So bring these contractors in. a $2 million park rebuild can maybe come down to $200,000 at the end of their work performance. They get a tax receipt that they can
then use at the end of their their quarterly or the end of their tax period and everybody wins. And it's no different than bringing in a contractor for sub for snow removal. You need to rebuild Winward Beach, a pavilion, you need to do anything. We have the people
here on the ground, the men and women that are bluecollar contractors licensed who want to give back, who may get refused by administrative determination because maybe it's a political order. I don't know. I hope not. But people don't want to quit. People don't want to give
up. And the last thing people want to do is leave and redline and let other people come in and gerrymander. And next thing you know, the city is not what it was. I thank you for your time. I hope you consider my thoughts. >> Thank you,
>> Council President. Can I make a quick comment? >> Yes, sure. Mike, I definitely agree with everything that you said. I think it's fantastic if the work that occurs in town can be performed by the tradesmen and the residents of the town. Uh, I've
been here 45 years, not 15. My parents live here still. I'm now raising my children here. I want brick to be a generational community. But with regard specifically to how subcontractors are selected for big projects, Miss Bergen,
can you define roughly what our process is for obtaining bids for any of the work that we subcontract out? >> So, we have to by law follow the state's New Jersey procurement law for us to have contractors work for our town. uh it doesn't mean a small local contractor couldn't submit the bid that they're
more than welcome to do that but obviously we need to have their business registration license and insurance. So it could be a large company, it could be a small company and it could be anything in between. But I I I don't take questions unless you ask me to. So it's a direct process of of which is open to
everyone to submit and those that are eligible are are on our pool and are welcome to help us. >> Thank you. >> Could we do one quick question as a followup? Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm not talking about trying
to contractors want to come help not seek bill. people that are coming in on their time to assist the 18 members of parks and recreation who are overworked and don't complain about it and go home to their wives and keep their mouth shut and keep their mouth
shut. It's about promoting civic responsibility, civic pride and everybody think we're doing news on America.
these little minute >> and it's always like in the Midwest that are stepping up to help out people they'll probably never meet again or see again because they know how to think out of the box they understand they're not
the person's got their own ups and downs but in the end we do something and come together. It's nice pictures you guys took tonight, but the
real picture is that people are hurting, including those in this town. We're no different than anywhere else. And in order to get up and away from this status quo, it's time to think out of the box and come up with good solutions. So, mayor, I hope the people you selected for your
committed, I hope they have good ideas and good ideas and I hope someone takes this and runs with it because we can save a lot of money by putting our blue trades and women to work for the needs of this
city and it has nothing to do with responding to a big package. >> Understood. Thank you so much and we'll definitely um you know talk about and consider it and we can get back to you on it. Absolutely. >> Council President, just one point if if people are countering they have to use
the microphone for the record. >> Oh absolutely. Sorry, my apologies about that. >> It's my first time. >> Hi, my name is Melinda Murray. Um, I've been here since October 26th, 1980. I moved for six months and I bought my
old house back, which was right in front of your old house. I used to babysit for him. How did I It's more po to a point of his question and I always said, you know, the school has a excuse me, a great volunteer policy. Nobody knows about it because they don't put it out
there, but they have a great community volunteer policy if anybody looks into the layers of policies. How did Jackson, since we seem to be following suit there, which I'm not so happy about, but how did they get their C um Castle Park that was all volunteers?
So, did they have to do like a because it was a local thing, do you have to put it so far out there? So, we've also done a park with volunteers. our Winward Beach Park, the whole area for children with disabilities was all it was, it was purchased, the equipment was purchased by the town, but it was installed all
through volunteers. So, when we have a project and we put out for volunteers, we've done this with uh trying to get a group of people to help elderly folks uh shovel and we had one person sign up. So, sometimes it works where we get volunteers and sometimes it doesn't. >> So, what would be different than the
Winward Beach thing to what he's saying? Like the only difference is they get like a tax receipt. They could write it off. So maybe that puts us in a different >> your your position would be different on how you have to do it. Yeah. >> Because it's local and you're asking for locals. I mean we don't have one thing
with all the green acres money you guys take >> which has made us beautiful parks. >> Shame most of the time I go there and my grandkids can't use them. Too c they're too crowded with people that don't even live here. Can't we have one just one for brick residents? It doesn't have to
be state-of-the-art because in six months, nothing is state-of-the-art. If put a pavilion, some swings up there, couple of those little charcoal grills and and some picnic tables, I'm good to go with my family on a Sunday afternoon. I think most of us are. And more to the
point of what you're saying, like, you know, six months, it's not state-of-the-art. I don't care if we do it in a school, a hospital, the town, it's not anymore. >> Your computers are outdated. Everything is. So, if we're looking to only do things on a local level and maybe one thing just for the locals, can we
not have to bid it out to everybody then? Like, I don't I don't know how that law works. I'm not an attorney. You got one there. You know what? But I'm just saying if it's the locals doing it for the locals, does it have to be bid out on such a big scale?
I think there were two different questions there but uh >> yeah one is can we have something for ourselves? >> Yeah and the because I mean I know once you take green acre money it's greenacre money but you know >> so for greenacre spaces we cannot make it for brick brick residents only it's
not permitted it has >> what if we stop taking it for one park like in the middle of town like >> all of the parks are already greenacre funded so it's not something we can just say we're not going to let this be a greenacres park anymore. can't stop taking the money on one park.
>> Well, on all the parks we have it now. So, it would have to be a new park, a new piece of property acquired by the town for a park that we wouldn't >> Do we own any property? Because we owned a lot at one point >> and I'm a little behind the eightball there. I really am a little late to the party with that one. But I we owned a
whole lot of land. I don't know why, you know, but we did. We owned a whole lot of land. Can we take something from that? That's a conversation for the council to have as the recreation committee and not necessarily for these three gentlemen to answer who are trying to get home. So I was thought we were going to talk about their budget
presentations. But you could >> it's kind of it goes to the budget because if we did it with volunteers >> committee would have to talk about all this. >> You guys willing to talk about it? >> Yeah. In terms of the the rec um the recreation um committee. Absolutely. and
like us having something that's ours without Green Acres money. >> Yeah, we could absolutely talk about it and certainly get back to you and keep everyone posted on on what we come up with. Absolutely. >> All right, cool. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. All right, anyone else?
Anyone else from the public in regards to the budget presentations only? Yes, sir. Mr. Finelli. >> Vic Finelli. By law, we're not required to give our address, by the way. >> Just ask for their name. I have one quick question for Steve and one
comment. Um, I noticed in your call center in 2024 you did 83,000 calls and in 2025 you did 103,000 calls or an increase of like 20,000.
You know what drove that? >> Sure. Steve, you want to give it a shot or you want me to do it? >> Okay. Snowstorms. We didn't have any snowstorms last year. >> We didn't have we didn't plow last year. >> Okay. >> Right. So 24 2024 we did not have we
didn't have plows out. We didn't plow >> not once. >> 20 2025 the this these storms were in 2026. >> We we had some in we they were in 2025 as well. There was an October okay >> and a December event in 2025.
>> My comment is rather long so bear with me. Okay. When I was a chairman, when I lived in Plainsboro in my townhouse, I was a chairman of the landscaping committee. That also put me in charge of snow removal. Notice I said snow removal. When you
live in these townhouse places, there is no place to put the snow. So, we had to move it. We actually ended up dumping it in a detention center, which meant we couldn't put any salt or anything on the road or there goes the stream, right? But we removed the snow. You don't
remove the snow here. You only move it. Okay. And uh I look at Facebook, there was a lot of complaints about snow removal. I just want to remind people of a of a few things. We really didn't have any snowstorms in the last three years. So
people were not used to dealing with a lot of snow. And and that includes the the drivers who plow and the contractors who contract. We kind of got out of that business, right? Then we were back into it big time this year. All right. Um
I get the feeling that people wanted the snow removed. They wanted it gone. Well, we had two big storms where it seemed like it never got away. The first one, the rain froze and it was there and it was there and was there. It is there. I read the comments, everybody complaining
and whatnot. Um, I don't know if people realize how many roads in Brick Township are not Brick Township roads. I know everybody realizes like Route 70 and Route 88 is not, but how about Chambers Bridge Road, Brick Boulevard, Hooper
Avenue, Drum Point Road, Adamston Road, Princeton Avenue, Beaver Dam Road, Manaloken Road, >> Mr. Finelli, just about every road with a traffic light. >> Is that what it is? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Okay. So, the township doesn't if it has a traffic light, it's a >> it's probably not our road.
>> Okay. So, anyway, you you you read all the problems about our our young people today in Facebook. Well, I think some of our old people have problems with Facebook, too. It gives them a place to vent. I firmly believe some people are not happy unless
they have something to be unhappy about, right? We call that bitching where I come from. So, uh, I know a little bit about it and I want to say thank you to your people, you and your people, for what they did, for what they accomplished. It's never going to
be perfect. I know that we don't remove the snow. We only move the snow. Now, maybe someday we'll have money to buy those big snow melting machines, but I but I doubt it. And also for the other people here, for the parks and everything else, we appreciate it. At
least I do. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else from the public regarding the budget presentations only? >> Okay. Yeah, you have one. >> Yeah. >> Bob Maniano, Seabird Manor. Um just a
suggestion because it happened to me when I was younger. We have these, you know, younger kids. Um they get in trouble here and there. Why can't we take some of the younger kids to help clean up the parks and have them pick up, you know, just to help out clean up
the park situation as far as like somebody has to go to court for shoplifting or something like that. >> Talk about >> volunteer time. >> Volunteer time. Okay, now their volunteer time. Let's go to the park. Let's keep clean up clean up the garbage, you know, cut the grass,
whatever we have to do and keep that going with the with the, you know, younger population to kind of push them to say, "Hey, you know, this is your punishment. Now you're going to clean up and do stuff like that." To me, today's youth is a little bit on the
laidback and I ain't doing that and I ain't doing that. Now, you're kind of forced to do it. You're going to pick it up and that's it. You know, that's your job. Yeah. Go ahead, >> I'm waiting because I was gonna get >> President, can I >> Bob? I think it's a fantastic idea. I'm gonna throw it to the mayor to outline
our pickup brick program, a program that I have personally participated in with many of my fellow council people and that I have drugg my children to that literally is us picking up trash in parks in town and along trails. I know Mayor Crate, this is a passion project of hers.
>> So, we definitely do that. We have one about every month. Our first one is March 28th. >> Everyone is invited. Kids a lot. We have lots of kids that come with their families. >> Volunteer. >> That is volunteer. >> So what about the the kids that end up in the court, you know, court for
whatever reason, small little penny stuff to give them some type of a punishment so that, you know, because today you you you know, you get in trouble, you get locked up, you're out of jail in two seconds because you can't hold them in. Let's put them to work and make them do some stuff around the town
where they have to do it. So, community service. >> So, the township doesn't is not involved in that. That would be something that the judge would mandate at. You can correct me if I'm wrong. >> Yeah. If I can jump in. This is it's not the mayor's decision when people are charged with a crime to tell them where to go to clean things up. I I hear you.
I think that's something that you might want to speak to, you know, superior court judge or municipal judges about. I don't know if they can do it honestly, but I know that the mayor and the council don't have the authority to do that. >> And to speak for our recreation department, uh they also offer
opportunities for middle school students to volunteer at all of our events. They're at trunk or treat. They're at fall fest. They work every Saturday at the farmers market. Those are all kids coming in >> doing work. Uh volunteerism. That's what we look for. volunteer kind of pushing
to try to teach these kids a lesson somewhat. >> Um, >> if I can add to that, um, we have a youth, it's actually a youth program, uh, where they get volunteers and they volunteer for basketball games, uh, doing the scoreboards for the basketball
games for our leagues. Um, they there's many different activities for do they have the senior prom that came back. Um, they volunteer for that. Senior dinner in the movies, they do the farmers market every week. Um, you'll see them if you go to the farmers market, you'll see them in tie-dye shirts. Um, but we have about a hundred youth kids who are involved in the program. So, there's a
quite a bit of kids who are involved in the uh program and it's for many different reasons, whether it's community service for the school um get papers signed. Uh, one of my staff members um does a fantastic job with that program. It's one of the many programs we have and it's specifically
for that uh middle school age group to do that. >> All right. Uh Rob from the parks department. Uh years ago we did have community service in in the public works and in the parks department. Uh it comes from the county. It doesn't come from the town. Juveniles
come from the county. We get letters sent to our offices if we're interested in having community service. It could be anywhere from the ages of 16 to 25. We've had them in the past. Some of them worked out. Some of them didn't. Someone would show up for one day. You would never see them again. They go back to the county and say, "This isn't for me.
Can I go to the Elks Club and wash dishes?" So, it's a great idea, but it doesn't always work. We've done it in the past for many, many years. We haven't had it in many years >> since. >> Yeah. Since CO, but we did have it in the past. And like I said, sometimes it works. We I maybe had two people in my
20some years of working for the town that actually commit uh did their full duties of all their hours. Most of the other people come for a couple days and they're like, you never see him again. >> So, that's where we were in the past, but I haven't seen it, like you said, since Okay.
>> Thank you, Bob. >> All right. Are there any other final questions in regards to the budget? Yes. >> Hi, I'm Sydney Nibis at Summitav. Um, I just have a simple question. Um, is does the recreation budget for this year, is
there any um trash cans included in the budget um for the sawmill bike and walk path? >> Um, we have bike we have garbage cans in the bike trail. Sometimes they disappear. They're not there all the time, but if you need them, you call contact my office and I'll replace that garbage can. >> Okay.
>> Yeah, it's unpaired. We don't give you brand new cans. We give you older cans that kind of went through the mill a little bit, >> but uh you'll definitely get cans if you call my office. Yeah, we just need a couple. There used to be a bunch and now there's only one pretty much throughout um the whole trail. So, yeah, even if it
was just like a bucket tied to a tree or >> Yeah, just call my office tomorrow. I'll have a can there within 24 hours. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions or comments in regards to the budget presentations only?
All right. Seeing none, I'd like to close that portion and we are going to now move on. Before we move on, I just want to thank all three presenters. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. You're free to go. Moving on.
Moving on to the consent agenda. All matters listed under item consent agenda will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. If discussion is desired on any item, this item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately. >> Thank you. 61.
>> Recognize Senior Nutrition Month March 2026. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution recognizes March 2026 as Senior Nutritional Month. For over 50 years, Meals on Wheels of Ocean County delivered more than 286,000
meals to 2,200 elder adults throughout the county. March has been designated as senior nutrition month to raise awareness about the importance of good nutrition for elder adults and the programs that help seniors maintain health healthy diets such as Meals on
Wheels of Ocean County. Thank you. >> Thank you. 62, please. >> Authorized housing authority appointment. >> Councilwoman Travers. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the appointment of Kathy Russell of Highland Terrace to the Bricktownship Housing Authority for a 5-year term. Thank you.
>> Thank you. 263 please >> authorize receipt of bids demolition of 982 Falenberg Road. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes the demolition of 892 Falenberg Road, an unsafe structure that needs to be demolished in accordance with the
recommendation from the township's property maintenance board. Thank you. >> Thank you. 64, please. >> Authorize award of contract purchase and delivery of janitorial supplies. >> Councilman Cohen resolution. This resolution authorizes an award of contract for the purpose and
delivery of janitorial supplies to a list of approved vendors as per schedule of the price per item. These items include everything from air sanitizers, brooms, glass cleaner, and trash can liners. Notice were provided to 55 vendors on the biders list and nine bids
were received. All nine were awarded in various categories. This is a two-year contract. >> Thank you. 65. Authorize award of contract mobile ice cream truck. >> Council Vice President Everino. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, this resolution authorizes an award of
contract for a mobile ice cream truck to Cool Concessions of Brick, a local vendor. Bid notices were provided to 131 prospective biders from our biders list. Five picked up bid packages. One bid was received with a bid amount of $3,200.
This bid will provide an ice cream truck for Winward Park, Beach, Trader Cove Marina, and other various township parks throughout the year. Thank you. >> Thank you. 66. >> Authorize award of contract chemical turf maintenance. >> Councilman Albanese.
>> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the award of bid for a seasonal turf application to Lawn Specialties, Hazelton, Pennsylvania. The contract provides four weed control fertilize applications per year for approximately 71 total acres per application at 15 locations including
township parks, recreational facilities, municipal and municipal complexes. It begins with an early spring soil test at each location to determine the proper application of each. There is an early and late spring application and early and late fall application. This is a
unit price bid with cost per application based on the seasonal treatment not to exceed 70,000 for a two-year contract period. 49 bid biders were notified of which nine received bid packages with lawn specialties being theest responsive
responsible bidder. >> Thank you. 67 >> authorized contract amendment signed materials. >> Councilman Mino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes an award of contract to the purchase and delivery of signed materials to Creative Visual Systems Branchburg, New Jersey.
This bid was previously awarded. However, one item was not awarded and left off of the resolution. Therefore, we are making modifications to award the include the item needed by the township sign shop. Thank you. >> Thank you. 68. >> Authorize award of contract through the
New Jersey Educational Services Commission Cooperative >> Council. I'm sorry. >> Uninterpretable power supplies. >> My apologies. >> No worries. >> Uninterruptible. Key word.
>> Councilwoman Raina. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes an award of contract to CW CDW government Vernon Hills in the amount of 105,35945
for the purchase of uninterruptible power supplies. This will replace the existing end of life batteries the township currently has in the IT department and the phone room, which can no longer be covered by extended warranties. Thank you. >> Thank you. 69.
>> Authorize approving the fourth round affordable housing spending plan. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes the approval of the fourth round affordable housing spending plan in accordance with the amended fair housing act. Municipalities may not spend an uh
an affordable housing development fees collected and deposited into municipal affordable housing trust fund without first obtaining approval of the expenditures as part of the compliance certification. This spending plan outlines how the municip municipality
intends to allocate development fees and other funds and how how the municipality proposes to ex expend funds for affordable affordable assistance. Thank you. Thank you. 610. Please >> authorize adopting the affirmative
marketing plan and rehabilitation manual. >> Councilwoman Travers. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the adoption of the affirmative marketing and rehabilitation manual in accordance with the uniform housing affordability control regulations that are consistent with the applicable stat oh my gosh
excuse me the applicable statutes and regulations. This resolution also approves the adoption of the rehabilitation program manual detailing the township's housing rehabilitation program. Thank you. >> Thank you. 611 please. Authorized waiver of section 110-5 of the township code
allowing dogs at the farmers market. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution allows dog owners to bring their canine companions with them to the farmers market held each Saturday from May through September at Winward Beach Park. Dogs are allowed in township parks
as long as they are leashed and their owners clean up after them as needed. However, the band shell area at Winward Beach is considered a beach area where are not allowed, which is why this resolution is needed. This will be the fourth year that dogs are allowed to
park. Thank you. 612, please. 612A is a performance bond release for block 277, lots 43 and 45. B is an inspection fund release for block 548.07, lot one. >> Thank you. 613, please.
>> 13A is 100% DAV, widow of veteran deduction of block 1422.09, lot 2. 13B is a tax overpayment in the year 2026 at block 1210.05, lot 45. >> Thank you. That brings us to the end of the consent agenda. Can I have a motion
and a second? >> Motion second. >> Thank you. Open to councel. Seeing none, close council. Open to the public for uh questions on the resolutions only.
Seeing none, close public. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. Yes. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Reno. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers. >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino. >> Yes. >> President Feman. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Moving on to 614, please. Be it resolved by the township council of the township of brick that the following bills be paid and that the mayor and clerk be and are hereby authorized to draw orders on the treasurer for the amounts of the same computer bill resolution in the amount of 1,924,15210.
>> Thank you. I'm going to ask for a motion and a second on the computer bill resolution. >> Motion >> second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Open to councel. Seeing none, close council. Open to the public for questions on the computer bill resolution.
Seeing none, close public roll call. >> Councilman Albanese, >> yes. >> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Reena, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Ambersino, >> yes. >> President Feman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to 6:15, please.
>> Be it resolved by the township council of the township of Brick that the following bills be paid and that the mayor and clerk be and are hereby authorized to draw orders on the treasurer for the amounts of the same. manual bill resolution in the amount of $2,12,23.34. >> Thank you. I'm going to ask for a motion and a second on the manual bill
resolution. Motion >> second. >> Copy that. Thank you, gentlemen. Open to the council. Seeing none, close council. Open to the public for questions on the manual bill resolution only. Seeing none, close public. Roll call.
>> Councilman Albanese, >> yes. >> Councilman Mikino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Marina, >> yes. Councilman Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Ambersino, >> yes. >> President Feman, >> yes. >> Moving on to
item number 71, >> an ordinance of the Township of Brick, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, amending chapter 250-29A and chapter 191-6B to amend the fees applicable to land use applications.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman Rea. >> Thank you. This ordinance comes as a recommendation from the township's land use committee who reviewed and approved the need to increase escrow fees and application fees for planning and zoning board applications. The fees have not been increased in nearly 10 years. Land
use staff recommends the implementation of a $500 escrow fee for accessory bulk applications and to increase the escrow fee for the principal bulk applications to $2,500. Land staff is finding it increasingly difficult to manage the billing because
the fees for small bulk C variance applications is $250. The board attorneys use up the fee and we have to bill to the writer account for virtually every application which means we are in the red for every bulk application just to have the resolution completed.
Additionally, for pool applications, the engineering review is much more detailed now due to coastal rules and the permit clerk frequently has to ask applicants to replenish the escrow fees in order to pay the professionals. This is a hardship for the public because we are
continuing to ask them to replenish the escrow. As a result, Lenu staff made the recommendation to charge upfront rather than having to keep asking for more as the application progresses. In some cases, LAN use staff had to result to billing the rider account to cover these
fees because applicants have refused to replenish the funds. As a result, the rider account is being depleted from the billing for the accessory bulk applications because there is no escrow to be built. Lenu staff have conducted research of other municipalities and
have discovered that we are the only municipality that does not have an escrow fee for the accessory bulk applications. and our escro fee is low in comparison. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm now going to ask for a motion and a second. >> I'll make that motion.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Open to councel. Seeing none, close. Council, roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Marina, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Amberino, >> yes. President Feman. >> Yes. >> Moving on to item number 72, please. >> An ordinance of the town of a brick county of Ocean, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 225 to require annual
inspections for the rental certificate of occupancy and amending the fee applicable to the issuance of a rental certificate of occupancy. >> Thank you, Council Vice President Ambersino. >> Thank you, Council President. This ordinance would provide for an annual inspection at every rental property in
Brick Township for the purpose of issuing an annual rental certificate. Currently, inspections occur only when there's a change in tenants. In this ordinance, the township's code enforcement officers will conduct these annual inspections, which provides us with the ability to ensure code
compliance for all rentals. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to ask for a motion, a second. >> I'll make a motion. Second. >> Thank you. Open to council. Seeing none, close council. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Makino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Marina. >> Yes. >> Councilman Co. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers. >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino. >> Yes. >> President Feman. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. And before we move on to
item number eight, uh I've invited uh township planner Tara Paxton to the table for a presentation on affordable housing. >> Thank you, Council President Feman. Um I'm also joined uh by our affordable housing attorney, Robin Leu, um who will
be tag teaming with me on on this presentation to explain the legal aspects and I'll discuss the planning aspects. So, >> excellent. Thank you both. and we're available for questions. So, the first thing that I wanted to discuss
um and and talk about is what affordable housing is um and what it is not. So, if you all leave here tonight not knowing the difference between section 8 and affordable housing, I will have not done my job. Section 8 is a federal
regulation that is governed by the eighth section of the housing and urban development regulation at the federal level. That is the housing that provides the funding for the housing authority um down the street at uh Chambers Bridge
resident not the Chamber Chambers residence but the the uh yes not the national church residence the HUD building. So that is subsidized by federal funding, not state funding, not local funding. And that arrangement is
also uh applicable to single family homeowners or apartment owners in multif family buildings who have uh a contract with HUD, the federal um agency to accept lowincome folks who qualify for
their regulations. So section 8 is a contract between HUD, the property owner, and the resident. And HUD pays the property owner rent directly. The funding does not go to the individual. That is a federal program that has
absolutely nothing to do with the statemandated New Jersey affordable housing regulation. The New Jersey affordable housing regulation is specific to making sure that the municipalities in the state of New Jersey are not practicing exclusionary
zoning. It is a land use regulation more than anything else, more than a housing regulation, more than um you know a public funding um agreement. So affordable housing in the state of New Jersey regulates the municipality of
brick in region four which is shown on the map up there which includes Mammoth Mercer and Ocean County. So we are lumped with Mammoth or Mercer and Ocean County geographically and a regional application of the affordable housing
regulations assigns a number of the number of units that that region is deficient in providing affordable housing. So the region 4 in New Jersey says that each municipality
has to practice inclusionary zoning. That means that we have to prove that we have regulations in effect that don't discriminate for low and moderate income residents to live here in our town.
It requires that we adopt the fair share uh plan and a housing element that identifies how much affordable housing we already have in the town because we are now in round four of a 4-year 1990 to today uh cycle and we have provided
more than our fair share in my determination when we were doing the analysis for affordable housing to meet our prior round and our third round. Our fourth round is now based on different parameters that were set forth by the
state of New Jersey. They looked at our population, how many individuals in the township of brick live at the low and moderate income level, how many jobs we have here in town, and how much vacant land we have here in
town. Those are the three factors that the state used to assign our obligation. Our obligation was much greater than I had anticipated. They state of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs said that through
their vacant land analysis, the jobs analysis, and the low moderate income residents analysis, they think that we should have uh zoned to build 360 more affordable units over the 1,120
that we already have in the township. So, we embarked uh my staff and I Vin Palmary and Ed Peters and myself embarked on a planning analysis to challenge that contention that we can build 360 more affordable housing units.
And remember, that's just the affordable housing units. The regulations say that every new development has to have 20% set aside. So, that means 80% more than 360 would be our full development buildout. That's 1,800 new units the
state of New Jersey was saying that brick should accommodate. So what affordable housing is is homes that are multif family rental or single family homeowner or group homes
or assisted living facilities with beds, nursing homes with beds, special needs or uh supportive housing like daddy's house. These are all units that are identified as low available for low and moderate income and that are deed
restricted. And that's the important thing. HUD does not deed restrict units. The New Jersey affordable housing regulation deed restricts units. A HUD unit could be a HUD unit one year and not a HUD unit the next year. But the New Jersey affordable housing regulations require a deed restriction.
When the rules first came out, it was 20 years. Then the third round came out and it was 30 years. Now, they're requiring a 40-year deed restriction on these units. And that's, by the way, just to jump ahead a little bit, that's how we are meeting our affordable housing number by extending controls for
existing units in the township. And I'll get back to that in a minute. But what is affordable? So on the screen you'll see the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency identifies low and moderate incomes based on the household
size and what percentage of your housing costs take up your income. So if someone only um only spends only has uh 80% less than 80% on their on their housing,
it's it's a moderate income house. 50% is low. Very low is 30. So a family of four who makes $107,0006 $107,680 would qualify for a moderate income
affordable housing unit. >> And that's that's net, right? Not gross. >> Yeah, that's net. That's what's on your >> That's two young 24 year olds with two children, >> right? So and and you have to be qualified. you have to have income in
order to qualify for affordable housing and you um you you have to demonstrate that you can afford to pay that rent to live in one of those units. So I created an overlay table from the
census data and the affordable housing housing regional income data to demonstrate specific information in the township of brick. So on the left are the census information for households family um the percentage of families
that meet that h income size and an estimate of non-family households. Now non-family households are typically like single um you know elderly individuals living by themselves or just an individual. And then I contrasted the 2024
affordable housing regional income limits this the slide that I just showed before and identified that in a the oneperson households in the township of brick 55% of our oneperson households would qualify for affordable housing for
the twoerson threeperson households 35 of our residents in the township of brick would qualify for affordable housing and from the four five and six person households 29 99.6% of our families would qualify for affordable housing. So affordable
housing isn't free housing. Affordable housing isn't um a handout. It's housing that's deeed restricted so that we don't discriminate so that we provide housing options and opportunities for people at all stages
of their life from being a single individual just graduating college to a senior living by themselves who maybe have just lost their spouse. So that is what affordable housing is. This also it just drives home the the
fact that very low is 30% of the median, low is 50% of the median and moderate is 80% of the median. So now I'm going to um hand the why do we do now we know what affordable housing is. We know it's not section 8. Why do we plan for
affordable housing? That's for >> the um the obligation to provide for affordable housing and the number that Brick Township has to plan for is going to exist whether or not these ordinances get passed because that number has been
given to us by the state. And the state says that Brick Township has the obligation to provide for now 322 units. And Brick Township has been participating in all of the prior round units. And what that gives you is immunity and control.
Control over where the units are going to go, what type of housing you're going to plan for, and you know exactly where in the township you want to foster this type of development and immunity from builder's remedy lawsuits because if the township loses immunity, if the township
decides we don't want to participate anymore, this is a state mandate and we shouldn't have to abide by this. Then the builders can go directly to the court and say Brick Township has, you know, has decided they're not going to participate, but I want to build these units and I have a piece of property and
I tried to get an approval and they denied it, but I have property. I have five acres and I can put two apartment buildings up. I can build 200 units and I can give 40 units of affordable housing to Break Township and the court will approve it regardless of what that site is zoned for and regardless of what
you've planned for. So that is that's the benefit that you get is continued control and continued immunity and a stay in how Brick Township develops for the next 10 years. >> Oh just the timeline.
So affordable housing and the the third round was being control initially controlled by KA was everyone calls COA council on affordable housing and they failed to promulgate rules and and that round took place from 1999 through 2025 and in 2015
it became apparent that COA wasn't doing what they were supposed to do and it got turned over to the courts and the towns had to file a declaratory judgment action and say you know we're compliant and it entered into this yearslong settlement, mediation, negotiation
whereby all of the towns pretty much settled. Eventually, there was a court opinion that gave the numbers. And so, they didn't want that to happen again. So, the legislature in 2024 adopted new legislation that said this is going to be this is how it's going to go for the next few rounds. So towns had until So
DCA came out with everybody's number and towns had until January 31st of last year to say we accept our number or we're going to reject that number and set our own number for affordable housing. And then um any developer challenger fair share housing center had
until the end of February to challenge that number. We went into mediation and you know brick township did say we had a lower number. We mediated with a few developers and a fair share and the number came down from 360 to 322 and then so we have the number and we
came up with a housing element and fair share plan which had to be adopted by the end of June of of last year. Brick Township adopted the housing element and fair share plan and then challengers had a chance to file saying you know there that the plan was deficient that was supposed to be the basis for the
challenge that the plan was deficient and they had until the end of August to do that. There were three challengers to brick's plan, two developers and fair share housing center. Okay, Tara's going to get into the details of that, but they challenged and we entered into uh
settlement negotiations from September through December 31st of last year. So, as I said earlier, originally the DCA said that our number was 360, which would have re reized 1,800 new housing units, only 20% of which would be
affordables. So we we as Robin stated wrote our own plan, came up with our own analysis of the vacant land analysis and adjusted the number down to 322, but then said we still can't do this. We can zone, we can do an overlay zone to try and meet the
322, but this can't be our number. We don't want our number to be 322 in our plan. So, we originally said that we could build 29 affordable housing units and then when they challenged our um analysis of the vacant land, it was
increased to 106. So, our plan and our affordable housing um document says that and our all of our agreement says that we are going to the township of brick work to allow for 106 affordable housing units in the town >> as Robin was discuss
>> over what time period? 10 years. >> Thank you. >> And as I said before, 50% of those credits already exists and we're just extending their their um deed restrictions. So the first uh challenge to the plan was the Fair Share Housing Center. Fair
Share Housing Center challenged our vacant land analysis. Um our second challenger was 975 Burnt Tavern Road. uh they challenged that we didn't include their property in our vacant land analysis and 100 drumoint road challenged us saying that we did not
include their property in our vacant land analysis. So we had a courtappointed adjudicator, we had a judge assigned to us um and we negotiated uh with each one of these entities to come up with some sort of a settlement
that was palatable as we could make it. Um, so we revised the plan, um, as I said earlier, to 106 from the 29, and I'll show you the maths in a little bit. And then Burnt 975 Burnt Tavern Road um,
proposed 400 units and we negotiated them down to 264 of which we're going to uh, allow 53 affordable housing units. And they still have to go to the planning board and get approvals. This isn't like they get a rubber stamp. they still have to go through the development and review process and design will be
the major component in reviewing those case that case. So, we revised the plan to satisfy the fair share housing center for the challenges of our vacant land analysis and our realistic development potential. And the court agreed um that we didn't have to include 100 100 Drum Point Road because the zoning that's in
place there with the village zoning still gives them an opportunity to build their property and produce 20% affordable housing which would be in place when the ordinances are passed. So to prevent invalidation of our zoning ordinances and obtain immunity from the
builder's remedies lawsuits, the settlement agreements required amending the middle housing overlay zone, which is what we uh uh proposed to meet that 322 number um to allow um up to 10 dwelling units per acre and parcels over
one acre to comp comply with the unmet need. Amend the affordable housing ordinance to require a 20% set aside for all residential developments. Our prior ordinance under the prior rule only required 15% set aside for multifamily units of 10 dwelling units or more. So
this is an increase of generating affordable housing and then adopt the burnt tavern road multif family affordable housing ordinance which allows for multif family to be constructed at 975 Burnt Tavern Road. The special court adjudicator reviewed our prior round and this is a very
important point that I want the public to understand. the prior round and the third round and agreed that the township met each one of those rounds. So, we never have to look back and say that we didn't accomplish affordable housing
projects that we identified in prior rounds. We weren't allowed to count hundreds of units that are deed restricted for affordable housing because there was a cap on senior units. we could only take credit for 25% of our
total number for senior units. They increased that to 30%. They looked at um control documents that we obtained from from assisted living and group home facilities and counted them because they accept state funding. You can count
those units. So we we can turn the page on the prior rounds and only worry about the fourth round moving forward. And that was always something that hangs over towns is that they can reach back to the prior rounds and say, "You didn't do this project. You didn't do that project. You have to add it on to your
number for this round." Um, so our prior round required 930 where we had a 30 we still have a 36 unit surplus. I want everybody to remember that we have a 36 unit surplus. When they come around with round five and they say that we need to build
units, we have a 36 round surplus. We comply. Third round required 105 and we complied. We provided it. Fourth round um they said we needed to do 360. We adjusted it to 322 for the unmet need.
Our plan is 106 units with two scattered site single family units extensions of existing single family expiring controls. the 53 which ends up being 106 because you get
bonus credits for doing multif family rental. Five from the Joan Marie approval that on Drum Point Road from last year. Victorian Gardens has two apartments that we're going to extend controls on.
The Bright View Senior Living site that's being constructed right now will provide nine beds of assisted living facilities. And then we have a lot of group homes, but we only needed to add four of them to get our total number of
147.5 credits. So that's 85 units plus 61.5 bonus credits. That brings us to 1447.5. The other component is the unmet need. That's that 322 that we said we can't do. We had to adopt an overlay zone. And
that overlay zone looked at properties. I worked with the uh planning board, master plan committee, and the the council land use committee and Robin and our township attorneys, and we looked at where where could we have the the least
impact on our community by uh using an overlay zone. And we looked at a lot of the properties. The rule says that you have to identify vacant land, but you also have to identify land that uh is is um probably going to be redeveloped in
the next 10 years. So, we looked at a lot of the properties that are not in great shape that we've had code enforcement violations at that we know that are not doing so hot and it turned out a lot of them were along Route 88 East and West and a couple along Manaloking Road. And many of them are
already multifamily uses. They're the little cottages. They're the motel and the hotels. they're non-conforming multif family units that are apartments that never got approvals to be apartments from prior to
zoning. Um, so we looked at reszoning them to encourage the redevelopment of those units, which then will not be the net of the 322, which the 322 we only had to I'm going
to screw this up because this is confusing. you only have to zone for 25% of the 322, which is 81 units. So when we looked at the zoning in the buildout, we had to make it for 81 units being generated there, not 322.
So our our best effort was to make sure that the plan had the least impact as possible to the township of brick. We didn't want luxury housing that's, you know, 10 stories high. That doesn't fit in our community.
We are a suburban household community. Even our multif family looks like suburban house, single family residences. We have cute little courtyards and cute little apartment complexes that you don't even notice when you're driving by that it's a multif family structure. And that's what
we tried to fashion the uh middle housing overlay zone to allow. We only allow for six units per building. We limit the height to 38.5, which is the same as the height in every other residential zone in the township. We required a parking space for every
bedroom so that we don't have overflow of parking onto municipal roads. And we made it so that if someone wanted to build a single family home on these lots that will not trigger the affordable housing component, they could do that.
You can build a duplex or a single family unit on a lot less than an acre. But the lot's over an acre, you could allow 10 dwelling units per acre. So, it is in our plan. It's posted on the website of what which properties are identified for the middle housing
overlay zone. Here's a map. And one of the things that I I I I wanted to touch on because I I know that this has been a um a common comment and thread in the community in the township.
I'm I'm born and bred here. I'm proud to work for my the town I grew up in. And what I hear all the time at board meetings um and from residents is that we have too much traffic. We can't allow any more development. >> Well,
you're right. >> The road. >> We I hear you. And and there's there's there's there's convenience in making the criticism without understanding the process. >> The process is >> there's a process.
>> Understand the process. >> Hold on. Hold on, sir. I'm going to ask the public to just remain cool and calm. They have the floor. They're presenting. Let's hear them out so we get all the data and collect all the facts. Thank you. >> So, the fact is is that the Township of Brick has not grown in population.
everyone around us has and we have no control over them. We can only have control over ourselves. So when we are faced with having to do affordable housing, we're trying to do it in the least way, least impact to the
township as possible, but we can't control what everybody around us is doing. We're the only community in the town in in the county of Ocean that lost population since the last census. And we've done that. We've done that because we have had constraints on zoning. Our
boards have denied applications. We one of the reasons why, you know, we're the fees the fees became a problem is because we had we have applicants who only have to pay $200 to get an application approved. Increasing the fee will discourage applications to the
board of adjustment. So the point is is that we don't have control over what our communities around us are doing. We only have control what we what we have control over. We have county roads that go through our town. We have state roads that go through our town. The only way
that we're going to get the county and the state to make improvements on those roads is when developers come in and put in curbs and sidewalks and shoulders and fix lights and fix the timing. they they the investment only comes when
development comes unfortunately. So with that I'll leave it to the council to council president to open the floor for questions. >> All right. Thank you so much and thank you both for the the presentation. So first I'd like to open up to the
council. So I have some questions that I can go first. So, you you talked about the difference between affordable housing and section 8, and I appreciate that. I think I've got an understanding of that.
In regards to section 8, if I were to see a house that I think is section 8, can I go online and and confirm? Is that like public information? >> No, >> it's not. >> Not not the Township of Brick doesn't
use doesn't doesn't hold that information. That's monitored by the housing authority. So, like I can't can I go online and and look and see if a certain address is and will it show me? >> I have no idea. I've never done that. I don't think so. I I like I said, the
section 8 regulation is a contract between the property owner, the renter, and HUD. I They don't list. Like I said, the property could be section 8 one year and not section 8 another. >> Got it. Okay. You could rent your I could rent my house out for section 8,
but I I would only be registering as a landlord. I don't think there's anywhere else that if there's a registry that maintains in every municipality who was doing that. >> Okay. >> Right. The housing authority administers section 8 certificates for
single family rentals. So they would know, they would be the people that would have it. >> Travel with the tenant. >> Yeah. Not they don't they're not linked to the property but with the tenant. >> Okay. All right. You talked about a height maximum. >> Correct. What was that
>> for the middle housing overlay zone? Yeah. 38.5 ft. >> So two two stories. Two and a half stories. >> Two stories two and a half stories. >> I think the the regulation lists two and a half stories. 38.5 ft. >> All right. All right. You talked about
round five. Is that when is that? 2036. >> Okay, we got a little bit of time there. >> Yeah. >> All right. And you talked a little bit about this already, and I apologize if you're going to repeat it.
>> So, what would happen to the power and authority of our zoning board, uh, zoning board of adjustment and our planning board if the council votes no? >> They lose the authority. I mean they can deny an application and then that developer can go to court and the court
will approve of the development. >> So like we lose >> we lose control over the zoning. >> Okay. >> All right. Council president if I may. >> Yeah. >> Ladies and gentlemen, everyone in this
room is going to have an opportunity to speak. Every single one of you. The public comment will come very shortly. Right now there's been a presentation question. Next is comments and questions by council. Then it's going to be open to the public. So I'd ask you just so we can run an orderly meeting if you just stop, you know, shouting out uh
questions or comments. You you'll get your chance, every single one of you. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I was focused on my questions. Um that's all I think I have for now. Is there anyone else from council that has any questions? >> I actually do. >> Okay.
>> I again I'm going to apologize also if you've said this, but I'm still going to ask. Um, in brick, how many households like based on the number of people in the household in taxable income would actually qualify for some level of affordable housing? >> Um, that was back on this slide. It
depends on the household size. Oh, you did say that. I do remember this slide. Let me see. So, single family household size 55%. Okay. >> So that would probably be most of you know s uh a lot of our senior
developments. >> Okay. >> Um and then from a two person to three person to a large portion of the four five and six person would be 35.4%. >> Okay. >> And then the six uh four five and six
person households would be 29.6%. >> Thank you. I apologize that I missed that one. So a third a third of the residents in the township of Brick would qualify if there was affordable housing available for them to apply for. >> And then one other one I had um you had
spoken about the credits. So of the 149 affordable housing credits in the proposed plan, how many are secured by housing that already exists in town versus has not yet been built? >> Yep. Let me go to that.
Oh, here it is. So, there would be the 10 single family housing units. Oh, here we are. Okay. Which we're going to extend those controls in the 10-year period. So, it's not going to happen all at once. There are single family residential units
scattered around the township. >> Um, >> and extending controls means nothing new being built. >> Nothing new being built. It's an existing home that people live in that they own it as an affordable housing unit. Um, but their deed restriction is due to expire in the in the next 10
years. So, when that deed restriction expires, uh, the township's affordable housing administrator, Homes Now, Inc., will negotiate with them using our housing trust fund money, affordable housing trust fund money to extend that control for another 40 years from when they so
if it expires in um you know 2034 a year before the end of the ne of this round it'll it'll be extended till >> 2074 uh and we won't have to build a unit. Got it. Okay. Thank you.
>> I have a question. Um, I didn't answer I'm sorry I didn't answer the question fully. The there were the 10 single family residential units. Then there's two at Victorian Gardens Apartments. Um, and then there's the group home
facility. So those are not new construction. Those exist today are living somebody's living in them and they'll they'll be extended. >> Sorry, Councilman Reena. >> Thank you. Is the density in this plan increasing from six units per acre to 10
units per acre. From the original drafting of our middle housing overlay zone where we had um six dwelling units per acre as our um as our threshold, it's increasing to 10 dwelling units per
acre, but only half of the properties are going to be allowed to be built at that 10 dwelling units per acre. It's only the properties over one acre that'll be able to have that 10 dwelling units. Anything less than that can only be a single family or duplexand, but
that's still >> almost doubling the density on where that's permitted. >> Didn't you say that many of those parcels that are part of the middle overlay housing zone are already non-conforming and more densely developed? Yes. >> Than that 10. >> Yes. Like for instance, like the
Gaslight Hotel, right, has 15 units on it and it's it's anybody were because all of this is potential. The whole middle overlay zone is just the potential to develop. If they were to develop, the development density would be reduced from what it is today. >> Potentially.
>> Yes. I mean, you don't never know what someone's going to propose and 10 is the maximum. They might not be able to do 10 based on storm water, based on the parking requirement based, >> but it could happen. >> It could, it absolutely could be 10 dwelling units per acre on those units
over an acre or more. >> I've got some questions. >> Properties over. >> Um, you mentioned that we have a lot of group homes. >> Have all these groups homes been included in this housing number? >> Not all, most.
>> Why? Um because you can only take so of of the affordable housing number 50% of them have to be for families. So groups homes aren't counted as family
living. So you can only take 50% of your credits from group homes. So we have excess credits. We have, remember I said earlier, remember those 30, those are some of the group home credits that we have those excess credits for. But they don't, just like they didn't count over
25% of our senior units in the in the the last round, they're not going to count all the group home units because they're not family rentals. We have to have half of them as family rental or for sale. So, moving into um round four of this,
guess we'll call it fair share plan, which I don't agree with. Um how much have the rules changed from one round to the next? >> Oh gosh, substantially. It's a lot. It's a lot more restrictive. >> Whatever we do now does not necessarily
mean when we go to round five is going to even count. what what you have now will count for this round. And as Ter is is this is state law and I don't agree with the state law being going to
put it right out there. Absolutely do not agree with the state law. Do not agree with the overcrowding but this is for your questions. That's for my statements. they can turn around in the fifth round of this and change the rules yet again
and force us yet again to build additional housing. So you mentioned that we lose control of our zoning. Do we know that for a fact? Has is there is it in the law that if we don't do this we're going to lose control of our zoning?
>> Yes. If we don't adopt these ordinances by March 15th we lose control of the zoning. And what is our recourse as a township? >> Recourse is to adopt the zoning and and proceed. >> So basically the state of New Jersey is
telling us that we have zero choice but to accept what they're shoving down our throats. >> Your choice is you can adopt the zoning and proceed under the plan >> or they'll adopt it for us like they did with school boards and shove 12% and 20% tax increases down a taxpayers's throat.
>> They won't adopt zoning. you just run the risk of developers coming in and and filing a builder's remedy lawsuit. >> But we don't know that that's how those lawsuits are going to turn out. >> They have in many other municipalities throughout the state, >> but we don't know that's the way it's going to turn out in Brick. >> We don't. However, there were
challengers to the plan um who were not settled with who are still out there. And if there's one and there's an opening, I can imagine that there will be others. >> Right. Very good. think >> Councilman Cohen, I just want to point out, remember, the state of New Jersey
thinks that we can accommodate 1,800 new units. >> I don't know where they think we're going to put it. >> So, so if we leave it to the judges in the state of New Jersey to make zoning decisions for us, I wouldn't want to take that chance. >> Noted. Thank you. Miss Leu, can you uh
maybe just explain a little bit more fully what those builder's remedy lawsuits are and what it means for us to maintain immunity from them? >> The builder's remedy lawsuit would be a developer who would come in, say they have a piece of property and they want to develop it at double what the density
is and they get denied at the local level. If we don't have immunity, they can then go to the superior court and say Brick Township has not complied. brick township is not providing a meaningful opportunity for affordable housing and I can do it and I would like to do 20%. So they'll build 80 luxury
80% luxury units and then 20% of affordable units and the court will approve their plan. >> And if we do have immunity, >> they won't they won't be able to sue they won't be able to bring it. >> So it's it's immunity that effectively >> delivers the power to our zoning board
of adjustment. >> Correct. to do things like deny applications, especially when applications don't conform with what all of us, everybody in this room and everybody watching this and everybody in town wants for Brick Township. >> Correct. >> What could happen? I know a lot of
people are aware of this particular address. Perhaps they participated in the zoning board of adjustments review of this application at the 100 Drum Point Road location, for example. if we all voted no tonight.
>> The the application that was denied which was for double the density that's it could go for that or it could be more because what they were proposing there was I think a mix of town homes and apartments it could just be apartments. They could try and maximize what they're able to put on that property and the
density could be far above what the township is planning for. Okay. >> Thank you. So are what are what are the risks are there of us not coming to a resolution with the fair share housing center? That's that's pretty much the risk. The risk is the loss of control over zoning and the loss of control over the
development of the township for the next 10 years and beyond. >> I have one follow-up question. Um, so that worst case scenario, is that guaranteed to happen? >> No. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other any other uh
questions from the council? >> All right. So, seeing none, uh, we're going to now open up to the public. Uh, you know, just, >> you know, be respectful of everyone's, uh,
>> you know, time and information and Okay. >> Hi, Tara. How are you? >> Hi, >> Melinda Marie again. Mindy. Um, all right. So, I'm going to bring up something nobody wants to talk about, but we got to talk about it. A lot of these developers are pulling Arloopa on us or threatening the Arl Loopa on us.
religious land use institutionalized persons act. We had a conversation about a two family house and federal law cannot determine who is or is not your family. I got an adopted child. He's not my kid. So the two
family house that was going in that we discussed basically the federal federal law can't tell you who or who your family isn't. So why can't all our group homes be counted? You know what I'm saying? Like if the federal government admits they can't tell me who my family is or isn't.
Then why can't all our group homes be counted? Why can't we You guys got guts. I know you got guts. Let's use them. Let them sue us. It's a one-time thing. It's going to cost us a bundle. It's going to cost us a hell of
a lot more if we don't put our foot down somewhere. And this is where we need to put our foot down with that or Lupra. When they passed that what, 30 something years ago, we were promised a 10-year look back on how that would affect because they passed it in the guides of
night with private couriers when land use attorneys were sitting in hotel rooms to testify the next day and didn't get to. They promised us a 10-year look back on how it affected a secular society. We never got that. Every year they do a
look back and their look back is on on um how wonderful it is that we got the Jehovah Witnesses 1800 housing complex somewhere out in the Midwest where there's you know what I mean? It never did what it promised to do.
Can we maybe do it or team up with another town or two and challenge that? Where's our 10year look back on a secular society? And if you can't tell me who my family is and I'm living with this person in a group home for the last
10 years, I was in an institution before, right? Say that I'm in an institution and my cousin or Judy over there, she moves in with me. You can't say she's not my family. I've been with her longer than I've been with anybody else. Right? So we have five group homes
over there behind um and they're not 40 years old by any means behind St. Thomas. So if they're counting one of them, they and federal government can't tell me who my family is, then why can't we count all five? >> We are counting a lot more. That's only the one in the round four. We've we
count I think I don't I'm not sure exactly what the number is, but it's over 20 group homes that we've counted for the round three and the prior rounds. That's how we filled in the gaps from the things that we >> So all of our group homes technically are counted. >> Not all of them. Remember I said we have surplus
>> from what round five for for round five we have surplus of 36. Those are for group home facilities. >> So and I and I I'm not an expert at all on our loopa but um >> I'm not claiming to be a legal expert but I'm certainly have studied it the
last 30 years. And that what I'm saying is like if federal law even without that federal law cannot tell me who my family is. >> Right now I understand what you're saying. You're saying why are they why are they why why are they making the regulations so that 50% of your number has to be families, >> right? Because and group homes aren't
counted as families. >> Yeah, they should be. >> I I guess it's just the way that the law was defined. Number one, and number two, group homes have to be licensed facilities. They're not a single family, >> but it kind of contradicts itself. >> You know what I mean? The law is contradicting itself. So, yeah, it's
going to cost us it's going to cost us money. It's going to cost us a lot of money, >> but it's better than It's going to cost us a lot of money when we get a bunch more kids in school. I work for the school. I know our enrollment has gone down. >> Yeah, >> we're seeing it go back up.
>> And we put these homes in, it's going to go back up. Kids need money. Old people need money and services, right? So, why can't we why can't we attorney ask >> the federal government to give us our
10-year look back on how our LOPA affects a secular society? >> I'm not sure about that. Um, the regulations were challenged. There were a number of towns that got together and they had a consortium and they challenged the validity of these
regulations and they went up to the United States Supreme Court and they were denied. I will say >> they were denied because of the way they went about it. Um especially like NYAK and and that area, okay, the little hamlets. Um everybody in one town actually made their taxes tax their
houses uh churches tax exempt like the majority of the house and it didn't work because there's very deep pockets. And I don't care. I think like a lot of judges pockets have no bottoms just like Bree. So can you I mean is that something you would consider? We are supposed to have
a 10-year look back 30 years ago. We don't have it. And until we know how that affects a secular society, we can't just roll over because we're afraid to go to court. We're afraid what it's going to cost us. It's going to cost us a lot one or two times to set it
straight instead of costing us more and more and more and more and more. You know what I mean? >> Thank you so much. I just want to make sure we have enough time for everyone. >> Can you guys will you consider that? Will you consider being the balls on the forefront of New Jersey? >> I mean, maybe.
>> All right. >> Karen Thomas, um, 21 Blue Spruce. So on the corner of Bersville and Jack Martin, they're putting in I don't know I think you mentioned what the name of it is. >> Right View Assisted Living. >> Right View Assisted Living. It's
ginormous. I mean they are putting in hundreds of units there. >> It it's a it's a 190 unit assisted living. So out of that 190, >> well actually it's 97 assisted living
apartments and 100 beds of assisted living. >> Okay. >> So they're you know people less than >> and our credit for that is six. >> Well, yeah, it's six plus. It's it's we're capped. Remember I talked about the cap. >> Yeah. >> They're required to So the federal law
says that you have to have 15% if you if facility in assisted living or a nursing home accepts Medicaid for their clients, they have to set aside 15% of their beds for Medicaid recipients. And those Medicaid
recipients are they qualify as affordable housing. So that's the 15% is the nine. >> Okay. But so we have excess group homes that we can't count for a lot of that. We have excess assisted livingings which
are going up like crazy which we can we can only take a certain percentage for that. So and because we have this open land um I live off Vanzal Road. I've been there 30 years. We have seen such
an increase in traffic. I mean I call it the Garden State Parkway. It's like you pull out of our development and it's like taking your your life in your hands. Burnt Tavern Road. The minute that light turns on the corner of Vanzal and Burnt Tavern Road, that traffic
backs up immediately to Greenbryer One, like within two minutes of that light. So, can we do a traffic study? Will that help us with coming to, you know, trying to deem that that area is
too densely populated and not count that land. >> That's not >> I mean I don't know who to address that question to. >> So unfortunately the affordable housing regulations don't factor in traffic analysis,
>> right? But it's factored in by how much open land you have, >> right? as a municipality, as the whole township. >> As the whole township, not just not just open land in that area. And we they don't count all of our parkland. That's
why we have such a robust open space preservation program because we want to preserve what's left. Right. >> Right. So, um and they don't th that those acreage th the acreage of afford of the uh in the affordable housing plan. We were we you don't count that as vacant land. it was privatelyowned
vacant land that that they counted in determining our vacant land okay supply. So traffic unfortunately isn't an analysis in affordable housing regulations though that's gets reviewed sight by sight when development applications come in or when um the
county engineer and the municipal engineer work on problem areas and trying to time lights and um you know fix >> but those problem areas can't be addressed until after h
>> addressed how time light timing I'm not talking about light timing. I'm talking about a densely populated area that the schools are overcrowded. >> The roads are overcrowded. And to put in
another development of that many units in that one area off of Burnt Tavern Road is it it's just detrimental. I mean, it's I I don't know what else to say. And if no one else sees that,
>> I I I see what you're saying. You're saying should there be there should be a traffic analysis done for 975 Burn Tavern Road before it gets >> absolutely that will be done. I can promise you there will be a traffic analysis of that area before that application gets heard, >> but we only have until March.
>> No, no, no. Whatever. >> No. So, the ordinances are on the agenda for second reading, which means that they if they if if the council votes to approve them, then 20 days later they become effective. Then at that point, the applicants for 975 Burnt Tavern Road
have to come to the planning board to file their application. >> Who does that traffic study? Does the do we order it? >> We have a traffic we have a traffic engineer who's a consultant for the township's boards. um and they will review the traffic analysis provided by
the applicant and they will ensure that all of the concerns brought up by the public and by the township for the development will be addressed >> and they have to get county approval as well >> and 975 Mavvern Road may not even become developed.
>> This is just zoning. This is not okay development. Next question. I'll try not because I know other people have questions, but at what point did that lot go from being a commercially zoned area to a residential? >> That's that's what they're considering
right now, the reasonzoning of it. >> Okay. So, with that said, that was a concrete that was a concrete plan. So the concern then becomes okay yes if we do pass this to
be a residential area that soil is going to be turned up. There's what's the air quality going to be because I mean that was a plant for years. That's another big concern with houses that are literally right on top of where all of
this is going to take place. And that'll be that'll all I'm sure. >> But can't that be determined before they approve this resolution? >> Why can't that be done beforehand? >> Because the application hasn't even been
submitted to the planning board. >> Okay. >> This just puts the zoning in place for like your house that you live in right now. >> Maybe I don't know. Well, you mentioned it. You Okay. So, it's zoned residential, right? >> Right. You can zone a property to be
residential, but it may stay vacant forever, >> right? >> Or for a very long time. Or you can zone a property property to be commercial, but it might not ever get built. Or the owners of 975 Burnt Tavern Road might find out that the development costs of developing what they've gone through
this process to do is too expensive and they're just going to keep it as an industrial use. Th this has to be done to just comply with the regulations and with the settlement agreements because they in essence they they they uh filed a
challenge against our plan but in essence it was it was an early builder's remedy lawsuit in effect. So it might not ever happen. If it does, it has to go through the regular course of going to the planning board, having environmental reviews done, having traffic reviews done, having public
hearings so public has the ability to comment. >> I understand. But you're saying you've already challenged it. >> No, they challenged us. >> No, I know. But I'm saying as affordable housing, you've gone back and said, "Hey, we we're not we can't build 300
whatever." Yeah. You came to a remediation, >> but can you go back? You can't go back again and say this just there's no this land isn't build buildable. It's an EPA risk. It's there's wetlands back there.
There's I mean I just they've um they actually came to us with their wetland delineation. and they've already gone to the state and gotten a letter from them that they comply that they're going to what they're proposing will comply with coastal areas facility review act and the New Jersey freshwater wetlands
regulations re regarding the soil testing. I don't know if any of that's done. The planning board doesn't have jurisdiction over that. The planning board can't deny a case if an application uh property has do soil sample testing and quality
testing. It's private land. We We can't do testing on private individuals land. It's a It's their burden to to prove to us. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else from the public?
Uh, yes, Miss >> My name is Jane Kank and I've lived in brick since 1968. I taught in brick for 35 years. I live in Herbert'sville and I use Burnt Tavern Road and I love it here in spite of the
property taxes. But my concern and this this woman that just was up here and she did a wonderful job is the environmental impact, the impact on infrastructure and the impact on our town. I love it here and I don't want to see us become an
inner city. So I would just like whoever has the power to relate that to the powers that be and that would make me very happy as a citizen. Thank you for your time. Thank you, James.
>> Lucille Madigan. I live in Herbitsville. My question is number one, how many of you live within a half a mile of 975? >> I think the three of us live in Herbertsville. >> No. How many of you live within a half
mile of that? >> I don't. Okay. I don't think any. My head. All right. >> Probably a mile. >> My other question is why is it that place get stuck with all 264
units? Why can't Burnt Cavern Road 975 have 50 units and uh Riviera have 50 units and Warlton has? Why? Why are all
264 right there? I don't think it's fair. It's not fair. It's not fair to the people of Herbertville in particular. And also
last year my husband was in the hospital, brick hospital, which they don't call it that anymore, but okay. He spent seven days in the emergency room because they didn't have a bed. Okay,
this is not uncommon for brick hospital to get so overcrowded that they have to divert to other hospitals. They take them to community or they have to take them to Neptune or I don't know where they take them. Long branch
and we we have the assisted living coming with a whole bunch of old sick people. They're putting up that I'm one of them. They're putting up that they're putting up that building on 88. A bunch
of old sick people. Okay. And I I I don't understand how. And then all 264 more people. It's It's too much in our little hermits. This is insane. I don't know
why they couldn't spread it out. And the other my last um problem is there's going to be a lot of kids. Lot of kids. 264. It's not 264. It's the mothers, the
fathers, two kids, three kids maybe. We have a lottery system for preschooling brick. A lottery. We don't have enough that we have to have a lottery for our preschool. And we're taking in more.
Where are they going? Where are these preschoolers going? It's it's just it's outrageous that no one is thinking of any of these things before they start jamming people into little towns like this. And that's my feeling and I think
most of us are. So your answer, what are we going to do about the old sick people and the new people from the 26 questions? >> So Robin, I'll start with the first question. >> Well, the 264 units are going there because the developer challenged the
plan and was able to come to the township with a plan at a moderate density of units and are able to fit 264 units nicely on that property. >> What were they originally intending? >> 400 units. >> It's insane. It's insane to do it to her
building. It's 10. >> Yeah, it's on 10 acre. So, what's the density that we got stuck? >> Yeah. The the ending density of that development is less than 12 10 dwelling units per acre. >> Not right. Absolutely not right. And
none of you are thinking about the hospitals, the schools. Those are not things that we're allowed to consider when we're talking about affordable housing. >> Oh, okay. All right. So, maybe next time my husband's in the hospital, he'll be
in the emergency room for a month before they find them. >> Thank you, Lucille. >> Yes, sir. >> Mike uh Mike Clyler, Hooper Avenue brick. Um I started earlier I spoke about our
square footage 32 uh square miles of our town uh 25 landbased uh the remaining water-based. I don't know the what we have left that's unbuildable that that is undeveloped land. I don't know how much out of that 25 is undeveloped land.
I do know when you build a home or you do structure, the building code here locally has a percentage of pvious and impervious for flood water mitigation. And bringing in something of that big on that soil structure that's at that facility that we can't monitor, which
doesn't seem fair and safe for the surrounding community. And I live on the other side of town, but we all have skin in the game on this one because if it can happen here, it's going to happen somewhere else. But FEMA uh the federal level, state level, no one seems to know
uh right from wrong and the rules always seem to be changing. They're changing now for coastal development. You now your homes have to be 4 foot higher than what they said was the proper standard. Yet the interesting thing is sidewalks where they are existing and roadways are
never built any higher. Just the structure which is ludicrous. Okay, start with the roads and then build the structure. Uh back to the old uh Mike O'Neal Anchor Concrete Facility um right next door. If anyone's familiar with the
name Arosa, it's a Texas-based petroleum company. If you remember, they paid cash deal for the Stavola plant next door in October of 2024. $1.2 billion dollar cash to the Stavola family. $1.2 billion
dollar cash money to Stavola out ofstate company. no interest in the local environment like we have our pride day with or without parades, right? Our community where we put our head at night and another out ofstate company comes
in, pays off the pays the Stavola family. Stavola keeps the names going even though they don't own it and for cash. And then they're going to want to expand their petroleum base right to our aquifer, Forge Pond, which goes all the
way out toward Creme Ridge. We supply and sell water to neighboring communities, Waltown, Chapowell, uh, Point Pleasant. They want to expand and we get back to pvious coverage, storm water mitigation, changing uh building codes, Army Corps
of Engineer making more blunders than they do successes with no options, no viable options, and then in the end we're stuck with it. So I think I think we need to look long and hard and we need to fight harder. And I'm glad to hear Mr. Cohen express his open content
discontent toward this. Thankfully, we have a savior. When President Fleeman asked you uh Constable uh uh what is our option, you basically gave us one option as our attorney and I hope you have a team of
attorneys working with you to guide us through this process because we count on you for success. But you gave us one option and that was to lay over and and and sleep. It seemed to be that. Okay. We need to fight a little harder. We need to really man up. It's not not bad
to go to court. The worst you can do is lose, but if you don't ask and you don't try, we're going to pay anyway. Just like Mindy said, >> Mike, I am on the same page with you on a couple of things, especially this as well. >> And then the next thing we do with this developer, I got a minute left. With this developer coming into the anchor
concrete plant to put up however many homes, there's other options. Again, get creative. Look in the box. Look to the real estate record. What homes haven't sold in over a year? Make an offer to these property owners who may not live in state, may not live in the town. Give them fair market value. Make that a low-income housing unit. Do something.
We don't have to continue to attack our undeveloped lands. We can find existing structures that need to be either mowed down and demoed, rebuilt, or remodeled. And there's ways to do it without cutting the trees and causing a problem with storm water runoff. You go to all
your local state colleges and you will see in the last 10 years look at the engineering and science curriculum and you will see that storm water mitigation is now introduced as a as a major course of study. It was never that way before Sandy. It was never that way. It'll come
after Katrina because all the experts at the federal level come up with programs and policies that may or may not work and it's trial by error. But we're going to have big big problems and the best thing is to put it back on this developer who's probably an out of area owner and make it hard for him. Say,
"Okay, you want to develop this? Well, guess what? I got 10 blocks of city street on the south that you send end of town. You're going to repave that. They need street lights put in this that the other thing." And make them make them go away. make it so expensive that so they can't develop in brick. That's what they did in Colts neck. They did it in
Homedale. They've done it in in Jackson. We got to find ways to roll up our sleeves, let people have expertise and have solutions and open the volunteer doors up for people that have ideas. I'm sure there's other people here tonight
who may not have enough courage to get in front of the microphone, but could email you a solution or an idea. We're in it together with skin in the game. It's ours to keep. It's ours to lose. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Council President, can I address Mike's comments?
>> Sure. >> Mike, I I assure where'd you go? Oh, I appreciate your imperous cover um comment because that's what I did. I took I try when I'm earlier when I said that we did the vacant land analysis and
we applied what we felt was a fair way to identify what's developable and what's not developable. I applied impervious cover limitations in every zone on every property that was identified as buildable or redevelopable. That that's
the one thing. All the properties that are the majority of the properties that are identified in the overlay zoning are built. They're developed properties. They're not cutting down vacant land for any of these zones. And when I applied my the impervious cover analysis, the
planner who was assigned to grade me basically said that it was a novel approach, but there was nothing in the regulation that gave me the power to do that. So that's how we got them to bring he agreed that it you don't build on a
10,000 square foot lot. You don't put 10,000 square feet of a building. You only put 30 3,000 square feet of a building because we have a 30% building cover and usually a 50 or 65% impervious cover. So, we tried that and we did go
to court and fight this. We've been in court since October. >> No, we were in court earlier. >> We we've been in court fighting this. This is where we've been fighting it. This is the result of fighting it. So the impervious cover comment, the stormwater management comment, I totally
take it and I tried it and I will try it again and again and again until somebody at the state understands that we can't build lot line to lot line. That's not how you determine zoning. That's not how you determine buildout. So we tried that. We got them to acquies a little
bit because we were so tenacious in our arguments. You've met me before. You know I can be annoying. And that is what got us to the number of 106 from the 322. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Come back up. >> Mike Hooper Avenue. Uh what about a
moratorum on building based on the simple fact that the state continues to raise the bar on building standards. Take the coastal creation. Now all homes have to now be 4 foot that are going to be rebuilt. Just put Okay, we're going
to just pump the brakes. Trenton, we're going to pump the brakes, let you figure it all out. Until then, moratorum. And then maybe these speculators, I'll call them carpet baggers because I know they're probably not from within this town. Maybe they'll go somewhere else
and leave us alone. Leave well enough alone. >> I'll let Robin talk about moratorum. >> That moratoriums on development are are expressly prohibited under the municipal land use law. They are not allowed to have a blanket moratorium on development.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thanks again, Mike. Uh, anyone else from public? >> Uh, yes, Bob. >> Jackson has 5,000 homes. Jackson Township's obligation was
mentioned by the last speaker. Um, Jackson Township has the largest obligation in the state of New Jersey. They're build they have a thousand one a thousand unit affordable housing obligation and their plan is all inclusionary zoning. So it will be resulting in 5,000 new homes that are
built over the next 10 years. So Jackson Township has not is not an example by which that you know Brick Township can challenge these regulations. >> Jackson's population between 2000 and 2020 has already increased over 40%.
And I know it feels like there are more people in town. As Miss Baxton had mentioned, a lot of those people are from the towns next to us. >> Tom's Rivers population has increased over 10% in that same 20-year period.
Manchesterers has gone up over 18% in that same period. And Lakewood has gone up over 131%. But it is accurate that Brick Township's population is essentially the same as it was in 2020. Just want that. I mean, and everybody
could look it up. Don't take my word for it. >> I'd like to respond. >> I'm sorry. In 2000, the 2020 census is the same as it was in 2000. >> Well, I did some homework um from our last meeting, and in 2000, our
population was 76,119. In 2010, our population was 75072. In 2020, the population was 73627. But in 2024, our population was 76629.
So, I just want to make sure those facts are known. >> I grant you those numbers. Absolutely. That >> shows the increase of population. >> 500 people against 76 plus thousand people. >> And again, it doesn't matter what's going on in other towns. All I care about on this council is what goes on in
Bricktown. >> And that's all I care about as well, Councilman Cohen. But you do not care about what happens in Brick if you vote to wave our immunity and allow developers to develop what is being developed in every neighboring town.
What we need to do, as distasteful as it is, and believe me, I do not want to swallow this bill, but what we need to do is come to an agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center, resolve this so that our zoning board of adjustment has the power to do things like deny the
application at 100 Trump Point Road. It has the power to control what gets developed because if we don't, I think your bet and your gamble will lose and we will explode in population. We don't know what the future holds. >> Look at what is happening to the town
west of us. >> You think that won't happen? >> Jackson has the ability to build 5,000 homes. They have the land to build 5,000 homes. Bricktown does not. >> All right, council. Let's uh Mr. Mataliano. >> Yeah, Bob has the floor. Let's >> Guys are doing good.
>> Yeah. Go ahead. Bob, take us away here. >> All right. So, I got I got a couple questions. Affordable housing. Affordable housing. You had the numbers up there. I think it was 76,000 that most of the for the what was the
number for affordable housing that somebody would be approved >> eligible. Yes. >> So if someone wanted to live in a unit that is deed restricted as an affordable housing unit they um you can look up at the chart right here. There's there's three
categories of affordable housing. There's uh very low income, low income, and moderate income. Right? >> So if someone makes 30% of the median housing income, the median income for that year, they qualify as low low very
low income, >> which is give me a number for a low. >> Okay. So, for like a one person household, >> one person >> for one person household, if you make $28,290, you qualify for very low income housing. >> Okay. So, on the low housing income,
they're going to be >> Well, let let's complete that. What about low and moderate? So low would be 47,150 and moderate would be 75,440 >> and that counts as affordable housing. >> That counts as affordable housing. >> So the person that's making the 29,000
>> he's going to live in that place >> rent or Yeah. >> rent free. >> No, not rent free. >> No, no, no. >> So he's making 28,000. What's his What's his rent going to be? rents are established by the state of New Jersey every year
>> and the rents are established based on that individual not paying more than 30% of that income on their housing. >> Okay. >> So if they make say they make $30,000, >> they can't spend more than what's 30% $9,000 a year on on their rent. Okay.
>> So that over 12 months that would be what their rent would be established at. >> So that is controlled by the state. Correct. We monitor it. >> The state controls it. So if I was a landlord and I said I'm raising everybody's rent $100, it does not happen at all.
>> No. >> Okay. >> They Well, there are there are increases as median income increases every year. >> Mhm. >> So it it can be increased every year, but no more than 30% of what they make can they be charged. >> It's based on income, not market rate.
>> Okay. So you said it's in Ocean County and Mammoth County. Correct. >> And Mercer. >> Okay. >> Ocean, Mammoth, and Mercer is region four. >> So let me ask you a question. How many affordable housing is there in Redbank?
>> I I'm not the Red Bank planner. I know. >> She would know. She's >> I not the Red Bank attorney, but I >> But you would know. I'm just curious. >> I don't know. We'd have to look up their housing element fair plan. Colt's neck was 101. >> Okay, that was good. You knew that one.
>> I just looked it up. >> That was their obligation for the fourth round. That's not how much they have now. >> That's their that's their new obligation. >> And they were enjoined in that lawsuit. That was that was um I don't want to say overturned, but turned down by the
Supreme Court, right? Cold snack wall. um bunch of towns from up north. >> Red Bank's number is 154. >> 154. >> Okay. >> So the other question valuation that the
state actually gives. Is it square foot of bricktown? >> Yeah. So I explained it earlier. There's three there's three categories. There's three categories to determine our obligation. >> Population was one. >> No, not population. It's the percent of our population that is low and moderate
income that meets those criteria, which we can't argue with. That is what it is. >> The amount of jobs we have in our town, which is almost 23,000 jobs. >> The point of affordable housing is to build it where the jobs are, >> right?
>> So, how many jobs we have in our town and then how much vacant land they assessed us to have, which was woefully inaccurate. And we challenged the vacant land. We couldn't challenge how many low moderating people people live in our town. The census is what the census is.
And we couldn't challenge how many jobs we have. >> So we could challenge the vacant land analysis. They had things on the vacant land analysis that were like the water tower off of Morris Avenue, >> right? >> Counting that acreage as our vacant land
analysis. It the the DPW, you know, yard was counted as vacant land. So we challenged that and brought the number down significantly. >> Okay. So my next question was um the rent that these people are paying
now. So somebody comes in they're going to pay a certain number of what they're making for their affordable >> 30% 50% or 80%. >> Okay. So as we know today a lot of uh the young kids today can't afford to
live anywhere. >> Am I right or wrong? So they, you know, they're living at home longer. They can't afford. Most of them live together. So throw numbers out there. You know, two people, boyfriend and girlfriend, are going to be eligible to
move into this. >> They're eligible. >> As long as they're making a a fair income, >> if they qualify, >> they're eligible. Now, we have affordable housing now. We have affordable housing administrator who you know people turn over in these units and
they they live in these units now. So yeah and even even single family for sale units are deed restricted >> all over the town. We have we have almost 40 single family houses in the town. >> I own several houses too. I have them rented to you know people but I don't
have the affordable. If I did that with affordable then it helps a little bit on the on the numbers. So if some people a lot of people buy them, why don't they instead of putting section 8, make them affordable and work things out? But can
a town suggest making it uh affordable instead of putting section 8? I mean, >> well, like I said, we don't do section 8. >> I understand. >> The township has nothing to do with section 8. And none of this is section 8, >> right? I understand that. But if you know Joe Schmo
has a house and he puts it as affordable housing >> instead of charging the $4,000 rent that they're getting on this shoe box. So which is a little bit of ridiculous. >> We have a market to affordable portion in our spending plan in our affordability plan that we would
negotiate with a homeowner if they want to make if they want to accept a deed restriction on their single family home. We would pay them for the deed restriction. whatever the value of that deed restriction is. Okay? And then that home would be affordable and regulated
for the term of the deed restriction. >> And by the way, those dollars come from the affordable housing set aside, >> right? >> When building permits are processed through the town. >> Those aren't tax dollars, right? >> But those are precisely there so that we
can encourage more affordable housing exactly like you put it for the people that are 16, 17, and 18 years old right now in brick. >> Right. so that in two, three, four years they can buy a house in the same neighborhood as their parents. >> Right. >> Right. It's about generational
community. And I agree with you on this. >> Well, one of the things I'm going to say is right now, uh, Mayor Crate, Mayor Craig, I have the attention, please. Thank you. the what you just said about doing rent at houses and rechecking the lease, you
know, the rental agreements, I think is the perfect thing in this town because these houses right now are just >> whoever lives in there lives in there. You know what I mean? It just non-stop. And that's probably the best thing this town can do to start controlling that on
who's moving into houses and what's going on. >> Every year. >> Every year. Correct. Like I said, you know, I have a few and I think it's a smart thing because there's so much riff raft that goes on in these houses and I think Bricktown should probably do some
kind of rent control because I see people that pay $3,000 for a one-bedroom house because they have nowhere to go. So on the affordable act, it's good for that person. But, you know, as far as
the other I just want to see Bricktown stay good the way it is and stop the development and like I you know, I mean, you're you guys are going to do if if the whole town stays together and we all fight it and and go, you know, we all work
together and donate or whatever we have to do to so it's not on a whole town, you know, maybe it's a way to go. I mean, I don't I don't want to see it get overdeveloped because you're talking Trump Point Road and Drum Point Road, Manalopen Road. It's a disaster. I mean,
it's the traffic backs up from Church Road to the church and people just turn around. It It's ridiculous. This the traffic and the traffic control uh guy that does that. It's not from this town. They should really do it at the peak,
especially coming, you know, coming up. We got Memorial Day weekend coming up. It's Mount Logan Road is past 70. I mean, it's ridiculous, you know. >> Yeah. So, >> thank you, Bob. I appreciate the comments. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Affordable housing. Um, my name is Burke
Kir, 39 Red Maple Drive. Um, how many uh affordable housing units are going to be put in the burnt t uh burnt tavern road uh property? Uh what's what's in the settlement agreement is 53. >> So there's going to be 53
>> affordable units and it has to be broken up to >> threebedroom, twobedroom, and onebedroom. Um and low, low, low, and moderate. >> Okay. Now, you you said >> how many credits do we get for that? >> 53. >> Double 53. So >> we get that's six credits.
>> 106 credits. >> Okay. Now, you say there's going to be one person, two person, three person, all the way up to six people per apartment. >> No, the bedrooms. Three bedrooms, two bedrooms. No more than half can be three bedrooms. >> How many people can be in per bedroom?
>> Well, that's that's not that's uh Do you know those? >> We got to talk about this. This is just a series. >> Yeah. >> Two. >> Okay. So, you have two people per bedroom. So, that means you in each unit, you can have up to 12 people >> in the threebedroom units. Yeah.
six people. >> Okay. Now, so six people, how many what's the percentage of two, three, four, five, or six per per develop out of those 50 things is going to be? It's going to be one, two, one person, two
person. What's the figure on that? So, we don't know how we get going to live there. It's not even I think Yeah, but I think she knows. I'm sure >> she knows how many bedrooms there will be. >> It's in the housing affordability, right? >> I know you got it there. So I think 50% can be threebedroom. So that would be 26
units could be threebedroom. >> There has to be 13% oneb. And then the remainder are two bedrooms, right? >> Can be two bedrooms. >> I mean, >> it could be one bedrooms. >> So, it could be a lot of people. That's what we're saying. >> Well, but there's you're forgetting the
80% of the units which which could also be two and three bedrooms. >> It's not just the affordable. >> I know, right? That's what I'm saying. So, we're it's going to be a lot of people living on that property, >> right? Yes or no? Just tell Just tell us the truth. I'm I'm good. You know?
>> Yes or no? It could be 264 people or it could be more than that. >> Could be how many people? >> 800. >> How many? >> Tell me how many. Just do do the math. Do the math. Six Six people per house. Do the math. What do we got? Tell us. Be
honest with us, please. That's all we want. >> I mean, does that information exist? Because it's not it doesn't exist. >> Well, we we could look at the worst scenario, right? >> Yeah. The worst case scenario, we get sued and then they I know what you're saying about the
other. I'm not talking about the other side. I know what you're saying. I agree with you >> that. >> Yeah. >> Only because I don't want to get screwed. >> Meaning >> if that's true. Now wait, I got another question for that. I got another question. >> Just to do the math, right? Because I think it's a fair question. >> Yeah. >> In the potential development, which
hasn't even gone before the planning board yet. If you were to presume all 80% that were not affordable, all maximized to three bedrooms, which I don't know that they can fit into the actual footprints of the buildings that we forced them to constrain themselves to.
>> I mean, you'd be looking at, I don't know, 1,400 people, 1300 people potentially. Thank you. 1,200. >> And how many All right. How many kids would that be? >> We just You got You got to divide that divide that by >> three. Okay. Hey divide by three cuz but
it can be no kids. I know but and it might not get built. >> The schools are going to be overrun. Okay. It's crazy. >> I I I mean I don't going to be going up in the schools. We're going to have if if the apartments we're going to have to pay the taxes because they don't pay taxes. Then the developer is going to
strike a deal with the town. Okay. And pay us a cut rate. That's how it works. >> They they will not strike a deal with the town. >> But that's how it works. You know that I will not work that way. I'm telling you right now. I was I'm a owner. That's how it works. I can deal with the town >> the taxes we we're going to get stuck
with it. We're going to get stuck with everything. That's why I asked about the planning board. I mean the develop the guys that work there. Their jobs are going to be way over overt taxed with all these people. They can't they can't take care. So they're going to have to hire more people, more cops, more everything. And the taxpayers, we're
going to have to pay for that. >> Miss Paxton, will the development generate tax revenue? >> I'm not saying against you. I'm just saying >> I am a tax. >> You live in a town >> my whole life. >> Then great. And you should understand then. You should feel my pain. Okay. All right. >> We do. We definitely do. >> So, talking about that now,
if uh you say they're they're getting a 40 years, so the the low-inccome housing just has they have to stay there 40 years. >> Correct. >> Right. And then what happens after the 40 years? >> So, it could it could revert to market rate or we could do what we're doing in
this round and extend those controls. >> Convert to market rate for who? homeowner that's been paying all been paying their their mortgage, whoever. >> These are rent. Are you talking about the >> either one? Either rentals or mortgage. It depends on what the developer is going to do. We don't even know what he's going to do yet. Like you said, we don't even know.
>> This is a this is a multif family rental project. >> Okay. So, this is going to be all apartments. >> Correct. >> Right. >> Or multif family. It might be condos. It might be uh town homes. >> I'm very I'm very against that. I'm very against that. Now, how how high are
these apartments going to be? >> Great question. >> Everybody builds they don't build two two floor apartments. They build six and seven story apartments. >> But that is something that we've already constrained them on. It's a good question. >> But but they're building these these builders are coming from New York. Look
at Route Nine. Look, look around. They're not building a two twobedroom apartment. >> Threetory limitations. Huh? Threetory limitations. Yeah, >> my and how close to my property on Red Maple Drive is that apartment going to be? >> Another great question. They've already negotiated that,
>> right? What's the setback for 50T? >> Oh, no. From Red Maple, there's a 60 foot setback. >> And there's supposed to be a conservation back there, isn't there? Shouldn't it be back past that? What? Talk to me because I I know. I lived there. Believe me, I lived there from the very beginning.
>> And I know all the deals that were struck. I know. Trust me. You asked a question about conservation ement. >> There's a conservation ement there. >> There's a conservation easement there. I'll show you my deed. There's one there. >> If there's a conservation easement, they
can't build. >> So, they got to build it 50 feet past that. Okay. >> No, it's from the property line the in >> So, they're building on you're giving them a conservation easement for for for a buffer from my house. You're going to build straight up. I have a I have a built-in pool, a beautiful backyard.
Okay. My family stays here all the time. You're going to make me move. You know that? Because I don't want nobody hanging out in the balcony looking at my wife or my kids laying in a bathing suit. Okay. I don't need perverts up there. >> Tell me about that. You're okay with that? Are you okay with that? Would you
want them doing it at your house? That's all I want to ask you. Would you >> Bird? Thank you for the the comments. I want to make sure we still have time for everyone. >> Thank you, Bert. >> Well, there's a 20 foot >> wide. And if we don't come to an agreement
with them, they will build a 500 unit six-story building. >> So let me ask you one more question. Let me ask you one more question. We will >> the way we can alleviate that burnt tavern road is just leave it as a industrial piece of property. >> It may very well remain an industrial piece. >> Keep it there and then we don't have to worry about these apartments. You know,
give us some let a company wants to put a business there. Okay? Don't don't like I said, don't give us more traffic, more ruin our quality of life. And as for the people in Bricktown, not the population not growing, it is growing. My
development, okay, it has turned over. I've been there 30 years. Now all the old people in Bricktown had it was stagnant for a while, right? Stagnant. They all moved to Florida, North Carolina, wherever. Now these young kids are moving. They're paying 700,000 for the houses. Okay? And they think they're
going to have a great life. THEY'RE WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH their little babies. There's like about 25 couples I see walking by my house every day pushing their babies. So, they're going to have more kids and more kids. So, Bricktown's going to grow. We don't need these apartments to make Bricktown grow. We don't need that. We have We
have We have I'm telling you, it's a new generation in Brick. You guys should know that there's a lot there's a lot of young kids moving into Brick because Brick is a great place to live. We're going to ruin it. >> Thank you, Bert. Appreciate the comments. Thank you. In the ordinance, I just want to say that consideration was
given to the properties along Red Maple Drive and there is a 20 foot wide and six foot tall burm that's going to be provided with 30 foot wide planted buffer in between the development and the houses on that road. >> I'm not going to have my back anymore because those buildings are going to
block the sun. >> All right, understood. Thank you, B. >> Yes, sir. >> My name is Jeff Waller. I live on Maple Red Maple as well. Mr. Cohen, thank you for standing up for the township. >> Most of the people in this town live in this town because it's a town and it's
not a city. >> Mr. Brono, I can't remember you read your name from here. >> I understand your concerns, Mr. President. I understand your concerns. I want to go with you with the balls. Can you do me one favor? Answer Bert's question on whether or not you want that
looking in your backyard. >> I'm not developing this. >> I'm not asking you. I'm the municipal planner who is charged with writing a plan to keep the keep the town from being sued by developers who want to build 1,800 units. >> But you're still not answering the question. >> It's not relevant.
>> It's not relevant. If you want to ask me what I did to keep the affordable housing plan at 29 rather than 322, I'll be happy to go through that. >> To be clear, nobody up here is doing this to the town. This is the end result
of a lot of fighting that we have already done to minimize the impact that all of you guys are speaking to here. It is the end result. And as I said before, as unpleasant as it is, if we don't pass
this tonight, it will go unchecked. It will only be worse. Sorry, this gentleman right here, I think, has some questions. >> But thank you, B. Say it again. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. Let's just move on to the gentleman who's got the uh the
>> Joe Lamb 386 uh Wisteria Drive. I've lived in bricks since 77. Um but anyway um getting back to some of the statements that are made and people would really help us all rather than in some cases they use generalizations
and come out with more detail. you know, some of the people coming up here and and other things that are taking place. You know, we spoke about um that there may be 1,200 people in this development and what would a property like that with
the square foot if you had an idea of what the real estate value of it would be and the taxes that it would generate the town because you just use a multiple of like 1.4 on what 1.4% 4% on the value of the
property. You know, people are concerned here about their taxes going up so much and a simple equation like that would help them understand a little bit about the dollar side of it, not you know what the gentleman said about, you know, uh
the view from the top of the building. But, you know, if it's industrial and they build a three-story industrial building, he could have the same problem. you know, not trying to downplay his he's got a good point. You know, he's got people bathing in his
backyard. He doesn't want that invasion of his privacy. None of us want that. All right. Thanks very much. But again, it is accurate. >> A couple of weeks ago, I was up here following two people and again, they come up with generalizations and let's
get into detail a little bit so we all understand what you know what the problems are. It is accurate that the property would foster taxes and pay taxes. Is that correct? >> There's a gentleman on the right that I want to make sure we get. >> Very good. And it is also accurate that
they could build a three-story house there right now. Right. And I know what you're saying and I agree with you and I wouldn't want it there. >> That's not a whole cond. >> They can build multiple houses along that whole >> BM there. We don't make it and we're
good. >> All right. My name is Bob J. I live at 157 Glenidge Court. >> Thank you. >> I've been here my whole life. I went from Point Pleasant Hospital to brick. I've been here my whole life. It's totally different now. But my question
is the affordable home housing. Are they going to legal people or illegal people? >> I disagree with the illegal because they're here illegally. my grandfather came over and had to stay on Ellis Island and come in. So that's my
question is are they illegal or legal? >> So applicants for the affordable housing program have to apply and prove a that their income is >> okay. No, they got to show an ID of proof.
>> Of course, they have to show ID. They have to show social security number. They have to prove that they are a citizen. >> Okay. >> And they have to prove that they can afford to pay their rent. >> But if if they're a citizen, great. They get it. But if they're illegal, they
won't. >> You're saying if they are not a citizen, they do not >> they are illegal. Like I said, I'm not stuttering. Illegal. >> Undocumented. >> If they don't provide No. If they don't provide a social security number proving that they are American citizen, they are
not qualified for affordable housing. >> It's the answer you want >> because I mean there's ways going around where they can get their stuff. >> If people are forging documents that that's not something that we're going to be able to control, but you have to provide the documentation to show that you are a citizen
>> because I I'm all for helping people like I said if they're legal. But if they're not, then no. But that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh yes, the uh woman in front. >> Uh two little questions.
Is there a census done at the apartments up the street? Like do they check the people's income stay the same? Like do they always qualify or once you're in it you're in it for life >> for a you mean at the Chambers Bridge residents the affordable housing you do
not have to re-qualify once you have qualified the first time and you're a resident you have a signed lease you don't have to reapply >> so if you're making 90 or $100,000 >> you can still stay there I'd be happy if I was making nothing and knew some broad
made 90,000 was living Is there any building regimentation that can be done before anything Greg's agreed? Like can you say Burnt Heaven Road you can't build anything more than a two-bedroom house?
>> Um no the ordinance the the ordinance we're going to look up the ordinance. I have the ordinance here, but even under the um the regulations that are applicable to all affordable housing in New Jersey, um two and threebedroom units compose at least 50% of all
restricted units. And at least >> we're talking about schools, but I I don't think there's a lot of kids that go to school anymore. That's a p thing to them, but they drive. I know on my
street, half the houses park on the street and if you have hund and something residences over there and there's four or six people in that house, where are they going to park?
>> You mean at the drum at the uh Bird Tavern Road site? So they they have to comply with the residential site improvement standards based on bedroom count for the how many parking spaces? Um I'm not sure >> complying with RSI. >> Yeah. So I don't know off the top of my
head, Melanie, but I think it's 1.5 parking spaces for one bedroom, 2.3 for a twobedroom, and three for a threebedroom. And then they also have to factor in visitor parking, which I don't I'm not that's that's usually the engineers that do that. things are the
ones that are parking on the street. >> Well, I'm sorry. >> There will be substantial parking. >> Yeah. Okay. Come by Sem Avenue the next so long. >> But that's not at this particular I I understand. My neighbor across the street's got nine cars. >> Well, they shouldn't be allowed to have and they should have had the police
instead of monitoring snow blowers snow plowers have the police dragging those cars out that were parked. >> They removed them all. They put two of them in my driveway. us as neighbors made sure that those cars were off the road. I understand there's parking on
the street, but at this particular development, there's not going to be parking on Bur Tavern Road. >> You say that now. >> Thank you. Um, any other comments? Um, gentleman in front with the gray shirt. Yeah,
>> I know what you guys are up against. >> Thank you. >> I do. And I I get your point. They take away our zoning. >> Thank you. >> They're going to do anything they want to us, >> but there's got to be a different way.
There has to be. We got a lot of of strip malls that are empty here. The Shopright center over there was empty for how long? Why didn't we do something then? Because right there at that and and where where you're putting that, you're
impacting my quality of life. That's right. >> Okay. I grew up in Union County. I escaped that place to here 30 years ago. >> You know what? You know what? You're turning into Union County.
>> Come on, guys. You all grew up. Mr. Cohen, you grew up here, right? >> Mr. Albanese, you grew up here, right? >> Hasn't it changed? >> Hasn't it changed? How far are we going to go with this?
How far are we going to let the state of New Jersey come in and run our town? I don't I don't get it. I don't get it. >> That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. Um, yes.
>> Think twice. >> My name is Kathy Rodriguez. I live at 35 Red Maple, and this is my first day at the rodeo. Um, I have a couple of questions and I'm gonna I'm naive, but I'm going to ask them anyway. Um, the Burnt Tavern location, the Drum Point
location was eliminated for whatever the negotiation was. But the Burnt Tavern location seems to be the focus and for me and my neighbors it is. Does that mean that there are no other open locations in Brick that could be
included in your proposal? No, when we wrote our plan, we didn't include any of these properties in our plan. We wrote a plan for 29 units and it was extending expiring controls. It
was working with Habitat for Humanity to build single family homes in, you know, in neighborhoods or rebuild homes in neighborhoods. Um, work with group group homes and the assisted living which was already approved. Joan Marie application on Drum Point which was already approved and they challenged that
>> the people who owned the property at 975 Burnt Tavern sued us. Not sued us. I'm saying sued because it's the common colloquial term. They challenged our plan saying you didn't include our property in your plan. And so the judge
knowing that we were not meeting the 360 felt and he ruled that their property had to be included in the plan. So that's why it's included in the plan. And if you look at the numbers, the 29 plus the 53 with the bonus credits is
what our plan ended up being. >> But there's still there I guess I'm still missing the point. You there are Brick is a really big town. >> Yep. And there's no other open lots but this one that's so close to we're
where we're we're gonna we're going to have to plant. >> It's a good question. >> We have to plant trees and where are we about BMS? >> No, it's a good question, Miss Paxton. Is it accurate to say it a different way that at this point the court has determined that we need to include 975
in order to come to any resolution with fair share housing and to settle this. And again, I know that there's a good chance it could get developed, but it also still may not. But we have to allow it as part of it. We we didn't have a choice in that. >> Okay. I I I I would submit there has to
be other places in town that that could be developed, but I will I will give in on that one. You said a couple of times it's, you know, it may not be developed, but there seems to be a really big focus on this property right now >> because I I believe the impression is that everybody here thinks this is
definitely getting built. >> Okay. And it's the thing to look at and go, well, this is not what I want. We don't want it either. >> So that leads me to, and I said, I naive and I'm admitting that. >> What is the process going forward from tonight? Because it sounds like except
for one person, you're going to vote for the ordinance which is going to allow this to happen. And I understand the ramifications of the the, you know, them suing us back and us losing control. I don't want to lose I don't think we should lose control. With all due respect, sir, but I understand what's going to happen. And I can see the
writing on the wall. What are the next steps that we can all participate in so we know dates, times, where am I looking for that? Like there's no newspapers anymore, right? Am I going on your website? Am I checking to see exactly what's happening? Because I would venture to say I'm not going to speak
for anybody else, but I would venture to say there'll be this group and more. >> Of course. So, and and there'll be ample time for you to participate in the in the planning board phase. So what happens is if this ordinance gets passed tonight 20 days it becomes valid and then the the developer the owner of the
property will make an application to the planning board. This will be a planning board case because it will be a permitted use in the zone not a zoning board case. >> So the the developer is going to just move forward once this is >> they will have the ability to >> okay to start the process >> to start. So then it becomes a
development proposal application before the planning board. >> So if you you said you live in the neighborhood. >> I do. If you if you live if you live within 200 feet of the property line, you'll get a letter in the mail telling you when the when the application is
made and when the date of the hearings are. If you're not within 200 feet, you can just check on the township's website under planning board and there's uh notices, right, Lynette? on actually on the top is notices and then you can see
when the application is made >> because a couple of months ago we got a letter >> from the EPA >> and I called city hall and I asked what it was for and you know what he told me? >> You're just going to have to wait. >> You got a letter from the EPA for the site >> for that site. I wanted to know what was
this about? >> They're doing an an ground ground and soil water analysis. >> Correct. But no, but when I called city hall and asked about it, I was tossed around and eventually I got to a person who said, "You'll hear more about it."
>> So, not an appropriate No, it was a gentleman. Yeah. >> And I didn't write his name down. It was a couple months ago, as everybody knows when the letters came out. And I don't want to overdo my time. I respect time. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Kathy. Great questions. Uh, Miss Paxton, in addition to the planning
board, what other bodies in town is the developer going to have to stand before? >> Um, well, the environmental commission, the well, not stand before. The application gets reviewed by the shade tree commission, the environmental commission, um, traffic safety office,
the fire bureau, um, the engineering office, and then it has to have county review by the county planning board. Um, as I stated earlier, they've already done preliminary work with the New Jersey DE, Department of Environmental Protection for the um for the wetlands.
Um, and they also, I believe, had a preliminary conversation with the Coastal Areas Facility Review Act at the Department of Environmental Protection for how much impervious cover they're allowed to build on on the site. Since it's an industrial site and it already has impervious cover, they don't they
don't have to comply with the minimum of 30 the maximum of 30% impervious cover because they've already disturbed the land. So all of those agencies, Ocean County Soils as well will do a review of the application. >> Do they also need to submit a major site
plan application to the BTMUA? >> Yes, MUA also for water service and sewer connection. They have to pay for 264 water and sewer hooks >> at at least $12,000 a nut. >> It's a pretty expensive proposition.
>> Exactly. >> Well, yes, Maline. >> Hi, Maline Co. Javanni Ayanna 333 Hudson Drive. Couple of questions. You know, this is my favorite thing when I do is I go to all the zoning and planning for things. >> Um, one of the things that I want to
know is when is our next census? When are they doing that? >> It's by it's it's centenn. It's every 10 years. So, it'll be starting to be conducted in uh 2030 and then it'll probably come out at about like 2032 2033. I think that's when Councilman
Reena, Councilwoman Reena was mentioning that she got the this the census estimate for 2024. That's an estimate, not a real count. >> So, um, the reason why I'm asking is is or criteria to meet. I understand everything you're saying. A lot of
people probably don't of meeting the housing. There are multiple homes that have multiple multiple multiple families in it. Why are those homes not looked at for this? And and I'm going to answer it at
the same token. It's because the state put this burden on us. We're being held hostage by the state. So I realize what you have done because I've spoken to you about it numerous times. Um but this is our town. This is where we live. The gentleman who doesn't want someone
looking over the balcony. I was on zoning for 12 years when I was on zoning. We kept that in our mind. We made sure that their light wasn't affected. They someone wasn't watching them. Um, BMS were large enough and all.
What's happening now? There are no rules. It's like when you're telling me 10 10 acres of land, all these houses are going to be condensed in. That's the state's ruling. Why are people coming to zoning and paying for things to be done at zoning when the state's allowing
these developers to do whatever the hell they want? >> Good question. You know what I'm saying? It's it's unfair that people are paying for permits now and they're allowed to build these mega houses here. And I have to say to you, as a prior president of
the board of ed, our numbers are going up. The high school numbers aren't, but the daycare numbers are enormous. You can turn >> I don't think anybody said that the school population was not increasing. >> Okay, you someone did, but >> you said that the population of the town >> Okay, so school numbers are increasing.
If the population of the town is increasing, do you know the population of the town is not increasing, but there very well may be more students in the school. I've experienced it. I have three students in the school system. >> So So you're telling me the population's not increasing, but there's more children being born and brought into the
town and the schools are having to have 32 34 because our budget was cut so low by the state that we had to cut, you know, put so many kids in a classroom. You're telling me that our town has not developed, our town has not grown.
You're wrong. You're wrong. That's >> what you're refuting right now is the actual census data. >> So, >> exactly. >> Look it up yourself. >> So, who answers the doors to to go with the census? >> I know people don't answer the door. I know the census is wrong. I know the
amount of people in the town. I know what you have to do, your burden to do that. I understand. I know some of the people don't because we don't want to see this in our town. How developed is our town? How much more can we develop our town? We can't >> like 2% >> 2%. And that 2% they're trying to fit in
all these mega buildings. I mean, I know the county has helped with the burden by giving money to purchase green acres property. People don't realize that Greenacres property can only be used for, >> you know, >> recreation and overseas. Right. Right. But the but Maline, the the the building
the building is not any taller than any of our other multif family buildings. That's what we we try we didn't want, you know, they they they came in with a proposal for a fivestory apartment building >> and
we lost our minds and said there's no way you're going to do this here, you know. So that's why we we negotiated and decreased it to three stories and cut cut it by 30%. They wanted to do 400 units and five stories. >> That's not what we want. We don't want
three stories and 264 either. But that was where we ended up at. >> I know you did that because I talked to you like I said many of times and we've discussed it and I know it's a heavy burden. But at the same token I get that people are saying they don't want it in
their backyard. I fought like hell over on this side of town. I could understand their fight on their side of town because what's coming into our town is not making our town better. It is making our town worse. And when you have those types of developments in your house, in
your in your neighborhood, >> it wrecks your neighborhood. I've lived here all my life. I lock my doors because we have people walking up to our front door. I we had a girl almost run off the road, my neighbor, the other
day. It's not nice. So, you can't disagree and I know you guys have the right that you're trying, but it's very difficult for people to see when it's affecting their home and it's affecting his home and their homes. >> Thank you, Maline.
>> Uh Mr. Finel, you hadn't come up yet for >> for affordable housing, have you? >> No, we have. >> No. there. There's only one one time per person. I'm so sorry. Mr. Finelli has um >> Oh, someone did come up twice.
>> No, I I'm I'm trying my best to keep track. I think it's only been one person. >> I'd just like to clear up a couple things I heard. >> Sure. If everyone could just be quiet as uh Mr. finale here. Um, >> I'll talk louder.
>> The 76,000 that's being quoted here for 2024, that's somebody's guesstimate or estimate. >> No, 76,19 I think was the >> 620 was the um was the 2000 census,
right? Was it the 1937 is 2020? >> 2010 was 75,000. 2020 was 72,000. We went down 3,000. >> We did. Well, Sandy happened in the middle of that. That was really attributable to Sandy. >> Mr. Finelli, the 20 The 2000 census,
>> all right, >> was 76,119. >> The 2020 census was 76 629. >> The 2020 was what? >> 76 629. 510 people more.
>> No, it wasn't. It was 3,000 less >> in between. in between was 3,000 less, but that was probably because of Sandy. The influx that we had during the 2010 to the 2020 census. We lost people because of Sandy. When all the homes were destroyed, they weren't living
here, so they weren't counted. >> Okay? >> We also don't count part-time residents, >> right, >> in the census. So all those people that own homes on the barrier island or own homes um you know on any of our inlets may not be counted in the census because they are not full-time residents of
Bricktown but does not mean that they're not driving their cars and their families aren't living in this town. >> That's why I'm trying to trying to understand where this number 76,000. I know I know that when we counted in 2010 it was 75 75 when the 2020 number came
out it was 72. Now, somebody is saying in 2024 it's up to 76,000. I'm just curious as to where that number come from because we didn't do a census in 2024. >> That I'll answer. Miss Reena, Councilwoman Reena said that number was
the 2024 census estimate. The census does an estimate every year. It's the American Community Survey estimate. So, it's it never pans out, by the way. It's always less than what they estimate. >> Okay? So it's an estimate >> and these are just the best these are the best numbers that we have to
determine who are yes that 2024 is an estimate. >> I'll tell you why where I live in the last two years three out of four houses around me across the street on site and across the lagoon all got sold by the permanent residents and got bought up as second homes.
>> Right. So there's nobody living in those three houses just right where I am. >> Yeah. >> Right. So there's nobody living there. So who's who's counting or making up for those people. It's it's an estimate. We're throwing it out like it's fact, but it's an estimate. The other thing is
I've heard several people come up here and say the schools are going to be overcrowded. If people think that, they have no clue what's going on in the brick school district. All right? Since I've been going to the meetings for 15 years, the population went from almost 12,000 to under 8,000.
That's onethird reduction in the amount of students. Since that time, they started with the prek, right? And and somebody said, "We have a lottery. That's how crowded we are." Well, we had a lottery because you can't dump 600 three and four year olds on the school
district in one year. >> Well, if I got to explain that to you, you're you're in you're in trouble. I'll tell you why not. Because you don't have the teachers and you don't have the rooms sized down to those. You can't get the teachers, right? All right. So,
there's there's no way in hell that the brick school district is going to be overcrowded. No way. The number of actual students, if you take the the prek out, which is up to 600, is still going down every year. So, when you talk about what's going to happen, it ain't
going to be crowded schools. Brick wishes their schools were crowded. They are not. And oh, by the way, in that same period, they did not close one school. They repurposed one school, but they did not close one. So, you lost a third of your population and still have
the same amount of schools. Overcrowding. No. >> Thank you, Mr. Finelli. Uh, yes, gentleman in the blue shirt. >> Justin Shingle, 49 Red Maple Drive. >> Couple questions about the affordable ha uh affordable housing. Uh, you said it's
only can be 20%, correct? Right. That's what the ordinance, one of these ordinances which is um on on the agenda for second reading >> requires 20% for So what it says is every new residential development of five units or more must set aside 20%
for an affordable unit. >> Well, can we mess with the developers and make it like 50% so they lose lose money on their development? >> I'd love to. >> That's what we should do. have a lot to hook up water. >> I'm I'm just I'm just saying you're talking 80% of that is going to the developer. Now, they they bought that
Burn Tavern 6 million in 2014 of December. They're going to develop on it. There's no question of if they are. Okay. So, my next question is, is there a way to instead of making three stories, go to two stories? Like, make it like every level house in at Red Maple. I'm not asking for a lot. I understand people need somewhere to
live, but I also think we should screw the developers. You should make it 50% so they lose out as much as money as possible so they won't want developing brick. Make it 80%. >> We did. >> I tried. I tried the one with my impervious cover. I tried making it 25%. But I was told no by
>> I'm just like look I understand people need to leave. I live live places and all that kind of stuff. But having a threetory like you can see it from my house. I mean, it was not that the concrete place was great, but you know, then there's like other questions like I
knew that I know they were probably doing illegal dumping in there. All right, I know the building's super old. There's probably everywhere. So, you know, this is a concern for my backyard. There's going to be dust everywhere. They rip that building down. All right. It's a concern for every like, you know,
as much as like, hey, I get it. People have to live under and I think this is a better program than what seems like section 8 is. No offense to even section 8, but we should stick it to the developer as best we can. We should make it as hard for them so they like the next time they argue or I don't say
bring us to court, they're like, "Well, this was the biggest pain in the ass. Maybe we shouldn't do it again or just as I said make it only two stories like I don't know. It's all they, you know, but they they're going to develop this. There's like there's no way you dropped six $6 million when it was valued at 2.5
when me and my neighbor looked it up when Clayton like started renting it out. So, they're going to develop on it. Like I know it's Oh, it's a maybe. >> It ain't a maybe. It's happening. It's coming. It's be prepared for more traffic. That's going to add probably 700 cars all in that region. They're
going to have to add a light out of there because there's no way because the current loop for Clayton for all the big 18 wheelers stuff like that had to wait at a small light. They're going to have to redevelop that whole intersection. It's not going to be it's not going to be pretty at all. So, I appreciate it. I
know this is a like terrible situation and you're giving what you have what you the best you can deal with, but I if you can stick at the developer, just stick it to them because they do not care about our town. They don't care about our streets. They care about nothing. All they care about is this. >> So, yeah, if you can increase the units,
>> 20% is the number that's set out in the statute and the regulations. Can't the town set a standard saying well hey we want to be progressive and add >> 20% is the number at which it's been determined that while while municipalities have the obligation to zone for affordable housing it's the
builders who build it and they also need to be able to make a profit because that's why they do this. So 20% is the number where they build their 80% of market rate units and they don't make money, they lose money, but they're providing the affordable housing and that's the balance that's struck and that's the number that's been determined
to be valid. >> Is there a way to reszone this for like single family homes? I I I Hey, I would if it was all affordable homes, affordable homes, all of them. I don't care if all of them were, but I know like 10 acres probably about I don't know 40 50 homes that around. Could we
just make it, hey, single family homes, that's it. >> The settlement agreement that we have come to with Fairshare Housing Center and with the developer is not for single family homes. >> And if we were to do that, then we would not have an agreement with the developer and we would not have an agreement with Fair Share Housing Center. >> And then they take you back and say,
"Hey, you guys aren't being fair." >> And then they might try to get those 400 units again, those fivetory, 400 unit buildings that they originally looking for. If we were to lose immunity, they would already be in court and entitled to get an approval on that. >> All right. appreciate your >> but in the math on the water and sewer
hookup I mean it comes to almost $3.2 million. >> Jesus. >> Well, I mean they already dropped six. What's another three? You know I mean >> I mean it's easy for us to say that. >> Yeah. >> But at some point I think dollars and cents comes into the equation. >> But you're right. You can do it.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Justin. Uh, yes. In the white sweatshirt. >> My name is Judy Lions. >> Judy, >> are these developers going to be getting some type of tax
exemption uh for including affordable housing in their plan? >> No. >> And that's been determined. That's a definite. >> That is 100% definite. >> Thank you. Thank you, Judy.
I'm sorry, it's only one for um one time for affordable housing comments. Um there anyone >> um Mr. Bacon? Yes. Good evening. My name is Charlie Bacon.
I live at 366 Rancokas Drive. I officially want to note you're past my bedtime now. So, I appreciate the details coming in. Point of clarification. Are we now after we're done going through this presentation, are we going to be allowed
to speak about the ordinance 81, 82, and 83, or is this pretty much all wrapped up into that? >> That's what I thought, but I just wanted to get clarification. All right. Um, >> hopefully there's not a lot
>> past your bedtime, tip. So, uh, I guess the first question is two weeks ago we had a first reading on the ordinance and I believe there was a planning board meeting on 225. >> At that meeting, did they
discuss these ordinances? >> We we Yeah, we had a master plan hearing at at six o'clock. >> Okay. >> That was publicly noticed, >> right? um and to discuss the amendment to the plan that we adopted in June which includes these provisions.
>> All three of them. >> Yes. And the and the planning board reviewed all three ordinances and um passed on a letter of um of approval or or they didn't consistency saying that they were consistent with the master plan. >> Okay. So, I'm a little confused and
maybe you can help me. >> So, they passed those ordinances. Well, they don't they don't pass it. They just they have the they have the ability to review. >> Okay. >> And make comment on, right, >> or um say that they're consistent with the master plan,
>> I guess, because we introduced the first reading on these three ordinances >> the day before. >> The day before >> the master plan. So, the law is that you have to send all land use ordinances to the planning board between the first and second. >> Okay, that's Thank you for that clarification. That's the part I was a
little fuzzy on. >> Okay. Uh the other thing I wanted to bring up and I guess it's a good time because a lot of this stuff that you you provided the great details really the origin was from the Mount Laurel doctrine. Correct.
>> Correct. >> And it was because of a lawsuit I think over 50 years ago against Mount Laurel Township. And it was determined by the courts that they were violating a lot of things because a lot of people were trying to
come in from surrounding towns and they actually changed ordinances or whatever to prevent all of that. True. They were one of the wealthiest towns in the state. Is that correct? >> I don't know if they were one of the wealthiest, but they were zoning out
people who worked in >> Okay. So that decision was pretty much the foundation of the doctrine. The state immediately turned and said all municipalities. All that's a key word in the legal
world. So I'm a little concerned. We're talking here about affordable housing and everything else here. Beautiful documents. How did we go from the wealthy communities opening up such as I'm going to pick on
Homedale. I worked there 13 years. I worked for the board of ed that are very wealthy that we're making it unaffordable to brick. And if you look around, can you tell me the medium household income in brick in the let's
just go county. Are we in the top tier or the lower tier? We're We're top tier. >> We're in the top tier. >> Yeah. >> Um >> We are. >> Yeah. The most >> for Ocean County. >> For Ocean County. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> We are >> I thought we were in the lower tier. >> No. >> Or the lower half. >> We are um Oh, did I write that down? We're We're just behind. We're uh just our median income is just above to uh Tom's River's
median income. >> And what's our what's our rank in the the county in towns? >> I didn't I didn't have that. I just had where we were in relation to Tom's River, but >> I think it's below 50%. >> Below 50% for Ocean County. >> Ocean County. Yeah. >> Per capita. >> Yeah. For the I don't I didn't bring
that statistic with me tonight. And the top one is uh Manalogen. >> Oh, right. >> Okay. And I think we're in the bottom half of the towns and yet we're talking about affordable housing and half of our community that
live in our town right now actually apply could apply for affordable housing. Yeah. >> So how does that in the concept of the the state make any sense at all? And by the way, speaking of the state,
we're the least affordable, one of the top five least affordable states in the United States. And what is the state done as opposed to want to strip of us of our zoning and put burdens? And I am going to talk about the school tonight. That'll be
another night. All right. On the burden of that, it makes zero sense to me. So, please explain all the things they're doing to keep the outflow population from leaving here. We're going through all this stuff to
make more homes affordable in brick and I believe we're in the lowest in the bottom half of the Ocean County. The other thing I want to ask if it's okay to extend this a little bit. >> Yes, briefly, Mr. Bacon. You mentioned region four >> and I looked at region four on your
screen and we're in with Mammoth County and Ocean County in some of the wealthiest towns. >> Does that hurt us being in region four? >> I don't think so because like I said it's it's based on those three characteristics. It's based on vacant
land analysis which we challenged >> uh how much low and moderate income residents do live here and on the number of jobs. So the the number the p so they looked at the region and they said the region um
the region said that I think it was something like 113,000 housing units were required for our region and that and then they based the percentage of what bricks vacant land factor job factor and low and moderate
income factor are on that. So, it was a it was an equation that was it was it was crazy math. And brick didn't end up with the largest number by any means. There were other municipalities like Jackson, Tom's Rivers was 688.
>> Ours, you know, ours was moderate compared to other towns of our size and population. So, I don't think it harmed us being with Mammoth and Ocean and Mercer County. >> But still, I agree with you. There are a lot of things different about Mammoth and Mercer County than there is about
Rick and it's that one that's cookie cutter planning which I don't agree with. >> Miss Paxton, can I interject real quick? >> Yeah. >> And Charlie, I love you. You know, we used to be neighbors. >> My Google search does say that Brick Township is generally within the top 10
to 15 >> of the wealthiest municipalities in Ocean County. There's 33 municipalities. So, we're usually in the top third, certainly in the top half. I will bring my the stat I saw. I don't know. You know what I mean? I >> and I don't know that that changes some of your underlying point, but
>> I wasn't prepared to talk about the last thing and I think it is worth noting. Somebody came up here at the mic and they made a really great question. What I could find I didn't search all the legal documents. Obviously, I can do that. The word resident appears on every
document that I did a quick search on. A resident does not imply that you're a citizen. So, I'm kind of curious. I think I'm very curious about that. I think that's an important thing. >> Yeah, it was brought up you you have to be a citizen in order to be to qualify for affordable housing. >> I just didn't see it in the ordinances.
I see the term residents used a lot. >> Oh, okay. >> So, if it isn't there, I'd appreciate if maybe you could follow up with the group and thank you very much for the details and the extra time. >> Thank you, Mr. Bacon. All right. Is there anyone else who we
haven't heard from yet from the public? Uh, yes. >> Hi. Uh, my name is Sydney Neas at 644 Summit Up in Brick. Um, I mean, I have a lot of stuff that I wrote down, but my fellow residents, uh, kind of covered a
lot of it. Um, I just have a couple questions. Um, with all due respect, um, chances are for roulette and blackjack not to be taken with our quality of life when you refer to, um, it could happen or it could not happen. It's, this isn't
something it's like, oh, let's just, you know, throw 20 bucks on it and see if it happens. >> Completely agree. You know, >> but I think there is an an enormous risk to take that chance on losing our immunity from builder's remedy lawsuits. I completely agree. So why don't we keep
fighting? I mean that's we have the freedom to do so. >> It'll impact our policy any other municipalities that you're aware of that have failed to adopt this and what's transpired so far or has transpired in the past? >> Municipalities that have failed to
maintain their immunity have had large scale apartment developments built. And I will say that it's not a game of roulette because right now we're in court with two different parties who have sued the town. Two different developers who want to build affordable housing. One of which came to us with um
a proposal for 400 units, fivetory, 400 units. And if the agreement does not get passed, then they can still apply to build that. And the other developer that we were not able to come to an agreement with is in court in affordable housing and also has challenged their zoning board denial. So, we're in court on them
on two different fronts. >> So, I think that the odds are better than roulette or whatever else that that the litigation will continue and if we don't have immunity, there will be more development than what we've planned for because in addition to the the 53 units
that we have in the plan and we have all of the other units that we planned for, the number will go up to 322. So, the unmet need mechanism won't be worth anything. We'll lose that and it'll be the full number that will be able to be built. So it'll be them and any other developers who come forward.
>> So I I'm not really understanding and maybe some of my fellow residents don't understand either. Um why can't we keep you know like Shark Tank actually I would like to present this offer. It's not in our residents benefit at all. I
mean the traffic is horrendous and I understand the population. Maybe maybe it feels like it's grown. Bless you. Maybe it feels like it has grown. uh with the traffic and everything, but even though if you're saying that the population has not grown
tremendously, um it's still impacting our quality of life. Even though they're not moving here, they're moving around us and evidently in with us. And there's no room like Bricktown doesn't have the infrastructure to handle this. I mean, I
can name plenty of intersections that we need left turning arrows because at peak times there's 20 cars trying to get through and some people like they just stay behind the white line. They don't inch up to let at least two cars get past. So, I understand you know the state the state but this is like an army
that we have up here that's supposed to represent us and I am very thankful that a few of you guys seem to like we cannot let this happen to our residents and so we already are living in a constant state of hardship. I mean, Summit Avenue and Fourth Avenue, I guess it was um the
board, the board of adjustment adjusted two houses that were able to be built on my street. And like Bert was saying back there, the one house on my street is a horseshoe. So, you build a twotory, threetory house on a piece of land that wasn't big enough. Our neighbor's house
now floods, can hold a swim meet for the high school in his basement practically. and the people that live behind them, you can just peek out the new person's window and look right in on them. And then the other house that got passed on forth to build for it was a hardship.
Well, we're living in a constant state of hardship because your the houses that are being built are suffocating our neighbors. Not to mention the constant trucks in and out, the tractor trailers. Our street is literally as wide as this podium right here. Two cars
go by, you're in the woods. It comes down to I understand we might lose power, but it's not going to benefit us. It's going to make life worse. And it's like, you know, I just don't understand why we just can't keep
fighting. I mean, I know all about putting up a good fight. I'm 4700 pounds and compete in jiu-jitsu. I get it. You know, if I can't get to the armbar, I'll go to take the back. There's always a way around and there has to be a way around this because our town will it's
it's gonna like be in shambles. I I don't know. But thank you for the time and I hope there's another way around because it's just really bad out there in the town of Brick right now. Thank you. >> Thank you, Cindy.
Is there anyone else from public who we've not heard yet on this particular topic? I think you already came up. I'm sorry. just one per per person. >> Okay. So, we're going to move on to
uh >> Wait a minute. We just want to say thank you to both of you for your time and your um expertise. >> Yeah, hang around. So, let's move on to number 81. An ordinance of the Township of Brick,
County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, replacing repealing and replacing chapter 245, part 6, articles L through L3 of the code of the township of brick to address the affordable housing requirements of the New Jersey Superior
Court. >> Council Vice President Empino. >> Thank you, Council President. I mean, everybody has been through this tonight. I think you guys understand what is in here. This is the first ordinance that effectively repeals and replaces parts of our township code to comply with what
has been settled upon with the fair share housing commission and to adequately meet our affordable housing requirements. To be specific, there will be a couple of zoning amendments proposed by Brook Township. One will be for 975 Burnt Tavern Road.
We one a recommendation that supports our position that 100 jumpoint road not be included in the plan. Present need rehabilitation obligation will be 149 and our round four perspective need obligation of 322.
It is factual that the planning board adopted the master plan document on February 25th of 2026. Thank you. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion and a second? >> Motion. Second.
Thank you. Uh, open to councel. >> Yeah, I I'll make a comment. I I heard everything that everybody had said. And I don't mean I just sat here and listened to it. I mean I heard you. I've mentioned it before. I lived in town my
entire life. My parents still live here. My children live here. What I care about more than anything is preserving what we have in brick. Now, we all know what is going on in adjacent towns. We know and I care more than
anything about protecting us from that happening here. And this doesn't feel like a win. It is something that is being forced upon us in order to get to a position where for the next decade we
could continue to retain control. that like it or not, and I don't like it, but like it or not is only afforded to us by the municipal land use law in the state of New Jersey and our compliance about these affordable housing regulations. And so to me, I'm calling on everybody
on the town council because I know you guys all agree with me, too. Perry, I know you live here and have lived here. Greg, I know you live here and have lived here. And Lisa, I know you understand this stuff. There's three reasons why we should unanimously,
whether we like it or not, pass this ordinance. Doing so ensures that we retain immunity from builder's remedy lawsuits. Losing that immunity would mean no control over development, and it would be disastrous for our town. Doing
so is necessary to ensure that our zoning board of adjustment retains its authority to set zoning rules. Otherwise, brick loses its control over development completely, and that would be disastrous for our town. And you know, Bob Mataliano brought something
up. This isn't section 8 housing. There is an element of compliance here that helps to preserve what does make brick great. I said it before. I care about making sure that sophomores and juniors and
seniors in high school, the kids going to Brick Votech, kids graduating from Ocean County College that grew up here can do what I did and live in the same town that their parents are in. I live in the same town that my parents are in. My grandch my children live in the same
town that their grandparents are in because I believe that brick can be a generational community and affordable housing does ensure that our children can afford to continue to live here. And there's a silver lining to making sure
that that is something that gets supported. And frankly, I don't think I've heard anything from anybody here tonight that doesn't agree with the fact that our housing has gotten insane and our children can't afford to live here anymore. Those are my comments.
>> Thank you. Um, any other comments from council? I also want to say something real quick that uh I believe Cindy brought up blackjack. when you make a bet and a small bet when you're playing in Atlantic City, for
example, and the dealer shows an ace and they ask the table for insurance, right? >> It's silly for me. >> Neither do I. >> So, same thing. I Right. I agree. Right.
>> Yeah. So, like I've seen players on like 10, 15, whatever the $25, you know, tables that they're going to take insurance for such a small bet, right? It's crazy, right? This is not a small bet. This is big. And I kind of view that when you brought up blackjack,
that's where my mind went that it's it's like insurance where it's going to protect us because if we don't, it's going to be it's going to be worse. That's how I feel. Those are my
comments. >> I'm sorry. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. >> I apologize. >> That's right. There there is a period of public comment. So, let's just do this in an orderly fashion. All right. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Starky. Um, so we are So, no other comments from council.
Um, President, if I might, very quickly, um, I hate to, um, compare what we have going on this town to gambling in Atlantic City. >> This is not a gamble. This is our town. This is where we live. This is our
future and the future of our children. Someone said, "How long has the council lived in this town?" I've been in this town for 50 years. I raised seven children here, and two of them still live in town. I'm very proud of that. They still want
to be here in Brick Township and my job is to leave a legacy behind for them that they want to be proud to continue to live in this town. Tara, you did an amazing job and how I feel about this has nothing to do with the work that you did. Okay? You have been incredible in
in fighting this from the beginning. So, I just want that said that, you know, as this progresses that Tara did an amazing job and she kept that number to what we're up here is calling reasonable
and I just >> better >> I definitely just want that out there. We're not going to agree and you can see that we're arguing. Just know that we all stand where we stand on this, okay? And it's nothing personal. is just the fact that this is our town. It's a town
I grew up in. It's the town that has changed so much that it's starting not to look like Bricktown anymore. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Rick. Look, I agree with you. We agree. >> I know we do. And and that's why
I can't help but feel if you didn't know that four of us were going to vote yes and we all voted no that we would all be unhappy with the result that occurs in two years, in 5 years, and in 10 years. We won't have brick anymore.
>> We possibly would, but we don't know what the future holds. That's why when you sit at a table in Atlantic City, you have no idea if you're going to walk off that table with 5,000 or you're going to lose 5,000. You have no way of knowing. That's why it's called a gamble. And we
need to do what the residents of the town want us to do. So, I'm just going to follow your analogy one more time. You know, some smart people say the best way to win at gambling is to not gamble. >> All right.
Thank you both. Uh so now we can uh so we're going to close council. Uh we can open up to um the public on um this uh this ordinance. >> But really folks, I don't know if there's anything more that needs to be
said. >> All right, come on up. Uh >> B. >> Burke. Yeah, I'm sorry. A lot of names. >> You're los You're losing your mind. But um I just want to say is there any past
case study when people said no to this? Okay. And what happened when they did and how many of there was there? So we you know we have a little and >> no it's it's a great question. >> What happens when people said yes to it case study for that? >> It's kind of come up a few times today. Miss Leu I don't know.
>> I don't think never really discussed it like clarified it is a good word. >> I I looked it up. So, since we're in round four right now and there's, you know, we're we're all all the towns in New Jersey are in the same boat. I can't give you, you know, instances from round four, but I can tell you about round
three. So, in round three, towns that had builder remedies lawsuits because they didn't comply with the regulation and adopt ordinances. Cranford, little Cranford, 49 very well. >> Yeah. 419 units were approved. Uh,
Milbour Township had 75. Edison had 135. Lambertville had 139. And these were all developments that were not included in their plans. They were towns that did not want to comply. And then Robin can tell you about the towns that just lost
the Supreme Court decision because they didn't want to comply. And now they're going to have to go back to the rules and go through this whole process again and get immunity that they don't have. They don't have immunity now. 26 counts. >> Yes. There's no presumption of validity
of their plans. >> Okay. Now, I just want to ask you one more question and then I'm done for tonight. If we go along with saying yes, we're not going to we're not agree with it. I got to I got to forfeit my house because
they're going to be building drive. They're going to wreck my house because you say that they're guaranteed to build apartments there. My house is ruined. I'm going to move out. I'm done. Because what's going to happen is soon as that apartment gets up there, I have no privacy and a property in my house. No one's gonna buy my house with an apartment built behind there. No one's
buying my house. My house is gonna be worth about $200,000. Let's get real here. My property is going to drop out the bottom. No one's going to want to Would you would you any of you want to live there? Would you buy my house? Who's going to buy my house? Nobody. I you have a very good point for
it, but Miss Paxton, I just want you to reiterate the specifics that are part of this that at a minimum the developer would have to comply with around height, around the burm, around setback and brush brush cover. Like they got they got to plant they got to plant trees.
I'm going to be soaking wet from run off from my apartment building. >> And wasn't the Supreme Court decision um they denied the emergency hearing. They didn't deny the court case, >> right? That was just what was before.
>> They declined to hear it. >> They they declined to hear it on an emergency basis. They declined to hear it >> going through the regular channels just on an emergency basis. >> But that means that those 26 towns now are going to be vulnerable to builder lawsuits.
>> Well, they're going to appeal that to the Supreme Court. >> They have no protection. Being in front of the Supreme Court doesn't give them an immunity. So now those 26 towns, if they don't adopt anything by May 15, March 15th, are not going to have any
immunity at all regardless of the fact that they're moving through the courts. >> Okay. >> There was no stay of that was they were looking for an extension of time. There was no stay that was granted. >> So basically what's going to happen is I
got I got to take a hit for the township >> to so we can just save most of the township. So, >> yes or no. Is that what you're saying to me? What? >> No. Well, we were >> Red Maple Drive. >> We were answering Councilman Amber's question uh to us about what what is in
the ordinance that's being considered. It says landscape buffer along the site's western boundary and contiguous to existing residents on Red Maple Drive. Because we've considered you, we considered you. A 20 foot wide and six foot tall burm shall be provided with a
30 foot wide planted buffer provided on the burm. So there will be a 50-foot setback from your property line >> and I and I think I remember your property correctly. You have quite a nice buffer along your property line, right? >> Yes, we do. That's why I moved there. Yeah. Long time ago.
>> So, but that's on your property that they can't do anything on your property. It's on from their property 50 foot in and then they'll have the burm and the landscaping. So >> where's the water going for that burm? Where are you going to go? >> Where's what going to go? >> The burm you're building. >> The burm will be 20 foot wide.
>> Okay. >> And six foot tall and then planted on top of that to obscure >> if it rains. Where is the water going? >> It all has it. That property drains towards the wetlands. So it's away from your home. >> I'm not seeing that what you're saying.
I'm not feeling that. >> We looked at the drainage plan. Obviously, they cannot drain. They cannot drain onto your property. >> It's only 50 feet. It's not far. You're talking about a big building there. It's going to be humongous there. >> But the can't drain onto your property.
>> They can't. We The board will not approve anything that drains onto your property. >> It's like the gentleman over here said, >> plenty of places they said they won't and it has. You know what I'm saying? So, >> you're putting you're putting you're putting my my property in the hands of some builder who's out of state. Don't
even care about any of you people. Any of you see what I'm saying? You're risking my life. I got to move. I got to take my kids away because you're get you're risking Red Maple Drive to satisfy brick. >> Thank you. >> That's the part I don't like.
>> Thank you, B. If we vote no, there will be a 500 unit development there. >> I understand what you're saying. Well, maybe we should just keep it industrial and then the houses can't be built there. That's all. And it might take 20 years to do something else there. >> Thank you, Bert. Uh, any other
>> comments from the public on >> I know I've been up there twice, but I I have one question. >> Why don't you come up real quick to the lectern? >> The numbers that you put up there >> that qualify >> the percentages
>> for lowincome housing. Okay. and you know lower housing >> who who qualifies for it. >> Exactly. Exactly. >> Wateride Gardens, is that part of that number? >> Interestingly enough, Wateride Gardens
was in the first round plan in the 1990s and then subsequently the the D restrictions expired and they didn't renew them. >> I understand that. >> But also those numbers probably went down or up. >> Should we reassess that? The income
numbers. >> The income numbers. >> Yeah, >> we don't set those. >> We Yeah, we don't set those numbers. That's those numbers state of New Jersey, right? Based on the census income and the um uh division of labors, labor and standards
>> in New Jersey. They're the ones that give us those income numbers based on employment records >> yearly. They change them. They update them every year. >> So, they're on people, not places. >> I understand. Okay. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> Yes, Miss >> I'll make it short and sweet. >> I understand your point that it is it's a gamble. I get that. Um my concern more is it it seems like this is going to go
through. So second step is we'll be notified, >> right? >> If you're in are you within two do you think with you're within 200 feet of the property? I mean, I'm on Blue Spruce, which right 200 feet isn't a lot, but here's what I recommend you do. You don't get a notice. Your neighbors will
talk to you and that maybe neighbors who do get noticed will tell you, but um you can go on the township's website. There's always a public notice when a hearing is going to be heard. Planning board meetings are the second and fourth of every month. >> Okay. >> So, with that said, how do we see the
results from their air quality, from their soil sampling? >> Right. So once they make application to the township, it becomes public record and you can call us and we'll email you a link to all of the information that's in the file or you can come here and look at it and we can go over it with
you individually to explain everything that you're looking at. >> Okay. So we know they're doing soil sampling. Are they doing air quality? >> Because >> I don't know right now what what's happening because they don't have an active application before us. All we know is what we've been noticed with. >> And we were noticed for groundwater
sampling and soil sampling. Our township clerk got that got the uh the notification in and it came to my desk. So >> um I know that they've done that work. >> So I I guess the question is I'm not sure where it falls under. So if they
start stirring this soil up and it was a cement plant and it does release these toxins. Um, so I have three children. My youngest child has cystic fibrosis. It's a terminal lung disease. We've battled this for years and when Ankor was there,
there literally, and anyone can tell you, if you had your windows open, there's white coating all over your house. Since the plant is closed down, it has stopped. Now, if they start stirring this up again, how much toxins
are going to go into the air? And it's just very scary. It's, you know, I understand we have to do what we have to do as far as affordable housing. Everyone's hands are tied. They have us, but from a health standpoint, like so,
uh, I'm not a construction code official, but before they demolish any building, they have to do an they have to do an asbestous survey to determine >> I'm not even talking about demolishing the building because >> well, it'll kick up everything else on the site, too. So, they do an asbestous
survey when they do demolition of any structures. So, >> but what if they don't do the demolition of structures? Because it looks like they're still going to leave those retail spaces >> for now. They they're not move they're not doing anything until they make an application. >> If they make the application and they
leave those retail spaces, they're not going to >> No. >> No. >> They're going to clear the whole property, >> right? >> Okay. Because they're at the very front of the property. So, my understanding it looks like that they're going to leave that and that's how they'll get around not having to do with soil or air
quality. >> No, ma'am. >> No, >> no. The entire site will be they have a we we have a plan, I think, appended to the to the um to the to our affordable housing plan that shows what they're proposing to do. They're going to demolish everything on the site. >> Okay. So, we'll just have to watch it
and >> Right. Like if you if you see anything happening, call the building department because they can go out and inspect to see whether or not they're doing anything that should be regulated. >> And and Miss Paxton, at the planning board, because it sounds like this would go to the planning board hearing, are
the results of some of those tests testified to? >> Yes. That that gets admitted into the record and then anybody can question. And like I said, you could you don't even have to come to town hall. We'll send you a link to all of the documents. You could, but you could also come to the planning board hearings, probably hearings that would be on this and you
could ask those questions and they'll have to testify to what those results are. >> Okay. And one more quick question. So, right now it's still zoned commercial. >> It's industrial >> or industrial industrial. >> So, once they submit that application, then the town will say whether it's
going to be approved to be residential. >> Right. >> Okay. Well, the >> after we pass ordinance 82, it will be residential in a very very limited way only based on what DF presented to us so far. And then they
need to go through the standard process to go through all of the other bodies that Tara had kind of spoken to before. >> Sorry, my mic was off. Um, so we have immunity now. All right. They're not going to stop. This going to go on for decades. I'm going to be here
for 40 years. So what is our plan to fight the state? Are you going to take something to the Supreme Court? Like what's our plan? It's not going to You're either going to overdevelop everything even more or redevelop what we currently have and make that even bigger and higher. So is there a plan to take some of the Supreme Court, fight
the state, join up with the other towns? Like what's the plan here? Because this is you guys are all thinking short game here. I'm going to be here for 40 years. Some of these people are short game, too. They might be going to Florida after this. I'm going to be here 40 years. What What What is the plan here? Because if you don't have a plan, >> election comes up in four years.
Everybody >> give you a heads up. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, seeing um no other comments from public, uh I'm going to close public. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese, >> no.
>> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Reena, >> no. Councilman Cohen, >> no. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Amberino, >> I vote yes.
>> President Feman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Um, moving on to uh item number 82, please. An ordinance of the township of brick, county of ocean, state of New Jersey, amending and supplementing chapter 245
land use to repeal and replace article 7 which shall be entitled sight specific affordable housing zoning and include section 245-76 which shall be entitled middle housing overlay zone. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Travers.
>> Thank you, Council President. Again, this has been discussed this evening. Um, but I'll just go ahead and read this. The explanation is so the middle income housing overlay zone consisting of approximately 72 acres of land spread among 50 parcels of land primarily
consists of sites along major thorough thoroughares in Brick Township. This zoning was initially proposed in such a way that it was not clear that that the desired affordable unit yield could be obtained. As a result, Brick Township revised the requirements for the proposed zone to provide a density of 10
dwelling units per acre and to permit a variety of attached housing types and bulk requirements to provide realistic zoning for redevelopment. The gross acreage included in the zone theoretically yields 720 total units and 144 affordable units. Therefore, the
township will adopt a revised middle-income housing overlay zone unmet need for listed zoning ordinance identified permitted density of 10 dwelling units and a variety of attached housing unit types will appropriate with appropriate bulk and setback standards to accommodate the permitted density on
a parcel by paral basis in both residential and me mixed unit use residential developments. Thank you. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion and a second, please? Motion. >> Second. Copy that. Thank you. Open to councel.
>> Seeing none, close council. >> You know, I just want to express >> Yeah. >> the disappointment that I've gotten my fellow council people. I think it is a luxury that you have to be able to vote no on this, to
essentially have a protest vote that boy, it would feel good if I could vote no. But some of us up here have to take the job of governing this town and making really hard decisions >> in the best interest of everybody here.
I want to thank everybody that has come out tonight because I know exactly how you feel. But at the end of this, I have to do something I don't want to do in order to make sure that our town is good in 40 years because that's when my
children are going to be here. And thank God there's enough people up here right now that can make this incredibly hard decision and ensure that we are protected from what is going around every other town around us. It's
not easy. I wish I didn't have to do it, but somebody had to be the adult in the room. >> I want to go on record as saying I take offense to that statement. And I also want to say that I keep coming back to this question. Why
the concerted effort before us here tonight to defend a vote supporting increased density and attempting to sway dissenting opinions. There is a majority of council and planning support to approve. I'll let
you all draw your own conclusions. I also want to remind folks um let me remind everyone diversity of thought is not a bad thing. It reduces group think. It enhances innovation and
it improves decision making and that's why I'm here. I will continue making informed decisions to serve this community and I will agree to disagree when it's necessary to do so. Thank you. This was the single most consequential vote that has come before this town
council in the past 10 years. That's the fact. It is. It determines whether or not we have control over the next 10 years. And I know it feels good in the moment, and I wish I could do it, too. But you guys have landed yourselves in
the wrong side of this vote. >> History will decide that. >> Absolutely. History will decide it. And you have no idea how this is going to turn out in the end. All right. >> We are standing by our principles and the principles that we ran on and we will continue to do so by doing what's
best for this town. Thank you. >> And we will retain the immunity that we need because of our votes. >> All right. Thank you all. I'm now going to officially close council open to u the public for ordinance number 82.
>> Okay. Seeing none, close public. Yeah, I saw the hand go down. >> Okay. >> Good evening again. Charlie Bacon, 366 Rampokus. This country is built on debate, opinions, and everything else. Here's a
fact. This state is one of the most unaffordable states to live in. There's a fiduciary responsibility for our government officials to do everything in their power to reduce it. Our property taxes are in the top five and everything else goes along with
that. This state has failed to do anything any movement with the high utility cost, the cost of housing and everything else. This is unfair to every municipality that has to take this burden on because of the laziness in Trenton and other government officials.
I'm extremely disappointed. I'm sorry I didn't get my hand up quick enough. I would have said this should be a no for those reasons. Until the state proves that they can reduce our property taxes and everything else that costs to go on in this state. They have done nothing in
the last 8 10 years. Period. >> Thank you, Mr. Bacon. >> Do you have a comment to come up here, miss? >> Okay. Um, all right. So, seeing none, um, no other public comments, we're going to close public roll call.
>> Councilman Albanese, >> no. >> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Marina, >> no. >> Councilman Cohen, >> no. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Amcino, >> I have to vote yes. >> President Feman,
>> yes. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to item number 83, please. An ordinance of the township of brick, state of New Jersey, amending and supplementing chapter 245 land use so as to add section 42 245-77
which shall be entitled burnt tavern multif family zone. >> Thank you Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This ordinance adds Burnt Tavern zone to our existing sightsp specific affordable housing zone. Brick Township and the owners of 975 Burnt
Tavern Road have agreed to Brick Townships with adopting zoning to permit the construction of an inclusionary residential development with 264 total residential units with 53 units set aside. That's 20%.
has affordable, very low, low or moderate income individuals and families, including a limited mixeduse residential commercial component oriented oriented to Burnt Tavern Road, 975 Burnt Tavern
uh objections was primarily centered on reaching an agreement with Brick Township to provide inclusionary zoning for the site. The owners of 975 Burnt Tavern channeled brick challenged Brick Township's exclusionary of a part of the
site the township round four vacancy land adjustment. Brick remedied this claim by revisiting the round four vacant land adjustment to include 975 Burm Tavern Road Track in the township revised round four RDP of 106. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Uh can I get a motion in a second? Motion >> second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Open to councel. >> Seeing none, close council. Open to public on ordinance number 83.
Seeing none, close public. Oh yes, sir. >> Mr. Bacon. Couple comments I'd like to make on these three. I talked to a lot of people in this town. Thousands.
Number one thing that I hear the most overdevelopment. Many streets come to a standstill. You can't even drive through main arteries in this town, especially down
at uh Brook Boulevard and Route 70 during commuting hours. Our schools are wolffully underfounded by the state and federal government. Class size is too high despite what was heard tonight. Hundreds of teachers have been laid off
since S2 was enacted. We don't need to exasperate. I just mentioned about the increased density. Here's another little fact that does impact our taxes is right now there's 900,000 immigrants that live in
the state of New Jersey. And if you don't think that has an impact on our schools and the cost to educate those people, it's going to be profound. Again, like the first two, I oppose this
for those reasons. I want to see the state do something to reduce our taxes and to give more funding to our schools. Good night. >> Thank you, Mr. Baker. >> Anyone else from public on uh ordinance 83?
Seeing none, close public. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese, >> no. >> Councilman Makino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Reena, >> no. >> Councilman Cohen, >> no. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Amberino,
>> yes. >> President Feman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to item number nine, public comments. Please note that each person addressing the council during any section of the meeting during which public comment is
permitted shall limit his or her remarks to five minutes pursuant to Brick Township Administrative Code section 2-3 33B. >> And before we get started, quick question, Mr. Starky. Are we allowed to limit the topic um
from affordable housing or >> you know I I would suggest that we had I think a couple hours worth of discussion affordable housing. What I would suggest is that people if they have topics other than portable housing, this would be appropriate time to get >> Okay, let's do that then. Thank you. Um
Um Maline. >> Yeah, it's late. I'm tired. >> Maline Cola. Javanni Ayanone 333 Hudson Drive, Brick, New Jersey. First, I want to say um it's always great to have a debate. Shame on you. And I think you what you
said was ethically wrong. That should be looked into. That should never be said by anyone that is representing our town. And while we were asking questions to Tara, you didn't half the time give her a chance to answer them. You butt in and asked her to do things. You're very rude
tonight. I understand that you feel behind the but there's now three Republicans on there and four Democrats. You're not used to that. It's called a debate and it's called people taking care of our town, not just yeses all the time. I'm sorry you were offended, but
that word you used was disgusting and embarrassing and embarrassing for our town. >> Thank you, Madam Um. Yes. I just want to say I agree with Matteline 100% and I'd like to welcome
the new council members since this is the first meeting I met with new members and this is the way a meeting is supposed to be. It's not supposed to be yes it no yes. You people had no brains. Now you're
going to have to start using them. A um is there going to be a pilot tax exemption for any place in the near future? You said this was the biggest
thing that's come up. It hasn't. You guys gave away 30 years of taxes for the prison. for the prison. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. It's the sports dome.
>> Do you realize how much 30 years will come to and that place isn't going to be open for 30 years? Now, I'm going to change the whole theme of my discussion. A
I'd like to say that for 15 years I worked for this town. For 13 years I was the inspection clerk. I don't know if anybody here had any work done on their houses. I would have scheduled your inspection.
I loved loved my job. People would look at me like what? Nobody says that. I did. I'm no longer employed here.
I'm now free to say anything I want. One, I'd like to know how many pay periods there are in the township. >> Um, >> bi-weekly. >> 26.
>> Standard 26. Okay, because I had to get some paperwork regarding and I only got 15. So, I guess maybe I didn't even count for that. Second of all,
there's an employee handbook. I personally believe there's information for the good people and the people that do whatever they can for the bad people.
I'd like to know if there's a different rule for employees such as I was lowle and the directors of departments. >> I don't all all employees in the in the township
are governed by the same personnel handbook, same employee rules. Um, you know, across the board, whether you're whether you're department head or a a clerk, >> every employee is subject to the same rules, regulations. They're personal
handbook. They're set by state law, by town ordinance, whether you are a department head or a clerk or anywhere in between. >> So everybody understands that that if the rule says I can't wear green, you
can't wear green. Well, Debbie can't wear green. >> I had to find somebody that works here. I'm not going to continue my my thought pattern tonight because it might go longer, but I just want to say
that I want it on the record and that's why I'm here to say that I was treated unfairly. I was treated different than any other employee. I work with approximately
15 20 people who said to me, "Would you stop talking because you know they're out to get you." Do I look like the type that listens to anybody? No. I take responsibility for what I say,
but I at this point I feel it's unfair that I had to take responsibility when other people didn't. >> Thank you for your comments tonight. >> Thank you. >> Yes, Mr. Finelli.
Let's start off with something good to say. Thank you for having the dialogue that you had tonight. I don't care how you feel about it one way or the other. You had dialogue with the public. You listen, they talk back and forth. One of the reasons I stopped going to the
schoolboard meeting, they absolutely do not allow that. In fact, now you listen to their disclaimer and they won't even answer your questions. So, thank you. That's important. People get heard. You listen. People get emotional at a boy. Maybe I can drop that bomb one day.
Nobody yell at me. >> Anytime you want. >> And this is the part where I share some information with you. How many of you watched the uh governor's budget proposal today? It was on at 2 o'clock. >> 12:00. >> Not many.
>> I was working. >> That's why they do it. Only us old people get to watch it. I'll summarize very quickly. All right. The first thing they talked about was one of my favorite things to stay in New Jersey. They want to drop the uh top salary from 500,000
to 250. I don't have a problem with that. If you're making 500 grand, you probably don't need help paying your taxes. And the 250 also was what the uh anchor program is. She also now this is a budget proposal. Don't forget it has to go through the whole process. Also,
second thing they talked about was affordable housing. We had a little bit of discussion about that tonight. The third thing they talked about was more housing for veterans. So, again, we're in the same thing. I get a feeling that sometimes when you talk about affording
affordable housing, people are worried about who's going to get those places. I heard people say, "My kids want it, so maybe it's not a bad thing." The other things they talked about is rising health care cost. We're all eating that
bullet. Another thing they talk about is big companies paying more of their share. The other thing they talked about is more shared services. Another thing they talked about is co funding ended. Well, it's been six years. How long they expected to go on? All right. It was going to end. The other thing they
talked about was small business uh programs going back to just for the small business, not the big ones. But then they dropped the bomb. Oh, by the way, this year's budget's $2 billion more than last year's budget. Now, what did they not talk about?
That's more important than what she did. What did they not talk about? >> I would love to have known, but I was at work. I was going to watch it when I got home. >> No mention at all about school funding. Nothing. Not Not one mention about school funding. So that bullet is going
to come and bite us. I mean I I hear everything. I keep hearing about the schools. I keep hearing about class size and everything else. I keep coming up here and saying brick lost onethird of their student population.
4,000 students. If we have large class sizes, it's because they're the way they're running it. It's not because we don't have the space. It's because the way they're running it. If you lose onethird of your student population, I'm not going to give you the same amount of money. I wouldn't do that. You wouldn't
do it either. But we we're in for more trouble. All right. Now, I'd like to see everybody get on the same page. If you don't, you don't. Okay? I mean, but the dialogue is important. It's a
people thing. Now, the other last comment I want to make is things ain't going to stay the same. If anybody thinks they are, give me some of that stuff you're smoking. All right. I mean, if you I used to live over in
East Windsor. Used to be all farms over there. East winds and Westwind. Drive from Heightstown down to Bordon Town on Route 130 and what do you see? >> You see everything. There's no undeveloped land anymore. It's built up
everywhere. So to have the have the hope that everything is going to stay the same as it was 20 years ago. That's not realistic. Right now, anybody's unhappy, my daughter's a real estate agent down in the Raleigh Durham area. I'll gladly
give you a phone number and you can move. But it's it's it's unrealistic to say I want it to stay exactly the way it was. It's not going to happen. It's going to grow and it's going to grow. So, thank you for your time and your effort and this is the longest meeting
we've had in a long time, but every once in a while that's needed. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Mr. Finelli. Any other uh comments from public? Seeing none, um
going to close public. Um Madame Clerk, >> I don't have anything to say tonight. Thank you. All right, Madame Secretary, >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yeah. Uh, thank you to the girls softball team, everybody who came out
with excellent presentations. Appreciate your hard work and most of all the public. Thank you, >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. Again, I'd like to congratulate the Bulldogs, uh, Heather D Young for the meals on wheels, the Rob,
Steve, and Matt for the budget presentations, Tara and Robin for their presentations. Thank you. Um and it's all you got. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Raina. >> Yes. I want to congratulate um the softball team as well. And um also appreciate all the hard work that's gone
into this evening. Um appreciate the public coming out in force and sharing their concerns. Um I did want to also mention that March is developmental disabilities awareness month. I was pleased to have joined the lunch break on March 5th with Mayor Crate and
Council President Fineman. The Ark of Ocean County does remarkable work. It offers a wide range of programs and services to meet the needs of individuals and um with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families providing housing, employment
and job training, recreation and support services. Vocational services provide job training, employment opportunities and transportations with a goal of finding productive employment for these individuals. Um these the opportunity to
work increases self-sufficiency, self-esteem and provides valuable resources to our community. I urge any small business owners to reach out to this organization if you think you may have an opportunity for one of these individuals in your organization. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman Cohen. Um, again, I can't thank Tara enough um for the presentation that she put together um to public works, parks department and recreation. Um, appreciate them and their presentation.
They do an amazing job. Um, overcrowding in the schools. There is absolutely overcrowding in our schools. We're not talking about how many children we can fit in the building. We're talking about how many children they can fit in a classroom. And because of the funding issues coming
from Trenton, we have an absolute issue in Bricktownship schools. The quality of the education that our children are getting is not what it was. That's not because our teachers don't care. It's not because our administration doesn't care. It's because Trenton doesn't care.
On to the rest of my statements. Let me start with this because it needs to be said loudly and clearly. My vote was not against low-income housing. The accusation is false and I'm not going to allow anyone to twist my position. What I'm against is the state of New Jersey forcing brick to absorb development we
cannot handle. Trenton can mandate whatever it wants on paper, but we're the ones who have to live with those mandates. The traffic, the overcrowding, the strain on our schools and the erosion of our quality of life. Brick is already overdeveloped. Everyone in this room knows it. Everyone on this council
knows it. Everyone who drives on a road in brick knows it. The traffic is brick is out of control. It's beyond inconvenient. It is unsafe. It is unmanageable. And it is getting worse. And now we're expected to add even more highdensity housing, more cars, more congestion, and more pressure on a town
that is already stretched to the limit. That is not planning. That is not responsible governance. That is dumping a problem on our community and telling us to deal with it. And while the state keeps issuing mandates, our schools are left to fend for themselves. overcrowded classrooms, not enough resources, not
enough support, and certainly not enough aid coming from Treton to match the growth they're demanding from us. Brick is not a dumping ground for state mandates. Brick is not a blank check for overdevelopment. Brick is a brick is a community and it deserves respect. So, let me be absolutely clear. My vote is
not against people. My vote is not against affordable housing. I firmly believe in that. My vote is against reckless overdevelopment, against unfunded mandates, and against policy ignore the reality on the ground in Brick Township. I'm standing up for the residents. I'm standing up for the schools, and I'm standing up for the
future of a town. Enough is enough. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Travers. >> I also want to thank the department heads, Steve, Rob, and Matt, for who were here hours ago. They're hopefully home and tucked in bed nicely. Um, I
also wanted to just make a statement as well about um my view on everything. You know, I heard everyone tonight and want to say why I support the affordable housing. I have to say the loss of immunity is very frightening to me. We are privileged as a town to make decisions for what is built in this town
and the potential of losing that um those decisions is not a risk I really willing to take. I also do believe on the positive side that affordable housing can improve our town by creating opportunities for a wider r range of residents to live and work here. When
housing is attainable, it helps support our local businesses, schools, and long-term stability of our community. Affordable housing can also help ensure that when young adults who grew up in brick and enter the workforce, I have three kids here, so that potentially could be them, that they can afford to
live here in the town where they were raised. We want Brick to remain a place where families can live and build their lives potentially for generations. I would also like to acknowledge the thoughtful work that has gone into the process by the different committees and boards that carefully considered zoning and land use. Thank you for Tara, our
township planner, for being here tonight and walking us through the slideshow in a way that made the information easy to understand, as well as Robin, the township's affordable housing attorney for their work on this effort. So, have a good night everybody. >> Thank you. Council Vice President Emerino.
>> Thank you, Council President. Let's see. Girl Scouts, salute to the flag, brick bulldogs, all of the presentations that we had from our budget heads, all the time and energy and effort, Tara and Robin, that you've put into this, everybody from the public again that is
passionate about this and has participated and heard out all of the ins and outs and details of this very complex issue. I think you've already heard from me about that. Perry, Lisa, and Greg, we agree about a heck of a lot more than you think we disagree about. I
can promise you that. I'd also like to thank everybody else on the council for I'm going to call it the longest town council meeting that we've had. We're at about four and a half hours. Hope everybody has a good night and we'll see you in a couple of weeks. >> Thank you. It doesn't even seem like the
same night when the other people were here. you know, >> it's almost morning. >> I know we're almost on the next day. Um, I just want to thank everyone. Um, you know, obviously all the presenters, but I want to thank all the council members up here and all the public.
>> This is how we learn. This is how we can uh, you know, get better and improve. So, just want to say thank you to to everyone. Stay safe and have fun. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Starky. >> No. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Bergen.
>> No, thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Mayor Crate, >> I just want to congratulate the Brick Bulldogs. Thank you for my little uh my ball here. That was very nice of them to offer that to me. The whole team signed it, so that's super sweet. Uh, also
thanks to Rob and Matt and uh Steve for their presentations this evening, uh, for their budget presentations. They put a lot of work into that and uh sometimes they're a little nervous in front of the public and I think they all did a great job and I'm I'm really proud to work with them. Uh thank you especially to
Tara and to Robin for all of your hard work. We've been here for four and a half hours debating this. I can assure you that we spent probably that times a hundred planning, talking, going over everything. And that includes
not just Robin and and um you know it's not just you guys that did you did all the bulk of the work but there was also land use that sat in on on hours and hours and hours of meetings going over this for the last year and a half. So thank you to those people. Thank you to our council members uh for
having the debate for having allowing to have the debate with our um public and thank you to the public for coming out to voice your opinions. that's what you have the right to do and and the expectation is that we would like you to do that. So, thank you. That's all I have.
>> Thank you. Next scheduled uh meeting will be held here Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 7 p.m. Can I get a motion in a second to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> All in favor? I