To the Editor:
Verona is on the cusp of a settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing regarding the latest round of affordable housing requirements mandated by the state of New Jersey. Although we were able to significantly reduce our obligation, it was very costly to the taxpayers in the form of land purchases, litigation fees, and one massive residential development that we can all agree is not suitable for the proposed location. With the next round of state mandates only four years away, Verona needs to be proactive and plan now and do our best to avoid the high costs of litigation and high-density multi-family housing in a town with nearly no available commercial property available for this type of development.
Rather than relying on a single solution to these upcoming mandates, we need a thorough comprehensive solution that starts with our Master Plan and uses all available options. As both a member of the Planning Board and a land use and planning attorney, Jason Hyndman is uniquely positioned to help steer in the right direction while preserving the character of Verona.
I recently witnessed Jason’s advocacy on the Planning Board when he requested actionable changes to the Sunset Avenue redevelopment plan that would hold the developers to our strict land ordinances and minimize the impact to the surrounding neighborhood. I have no doubt that Jason will bring the same thoughtful analysis as a member of the Town Council on both this and other important issues. This is why I am voting Jason Hyndman, line 2A on May 11 for Town Council.
Jeremy Katzeff
Verona, NJ
