The Jersey City Council approved an amended Journal Square affordable housing ordinance on first reading and defeated the one up for second reading recommended by the planning board at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
During the council’s caucus on Monday, Department of Housing, Economic Development & Commerce (HEDC) Director Annisia Cialone explained they wanted to include exemptions to preserve the community’s character by preserving smaller buildings.
Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano said he’s been working on the issue for two years.
“I am asking the council to join me in voting no for the second reading and vote yes on the first reading,” he explained.
“A lot of the council people are confused,” Council President Joyce Watterman said, appearing annoyed at the abrupt nature that the amendments were introduced.
Cialone explained that the version up for second reading had no exemptions, while the one up for first reading did.
“Our recommendation was you couldn’t include something in the middle but not the outside. It’s either (Zones) 1 and 3 or the whole shebang,” Planning Director Tanya Marione said.
“Does this change go back to them?” Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley asked about the planning board.
“It doesn’t,” Cialone replied.
Watterman noted that being exempted from taller buildings also meant it would be exempt from affordable housing mandates.
“It’s a choice about preserving community character versus more affordability,” Cialone said.
“What percentage of future development in the zones is being excluded?” Ward E Councilman James Solomon asked.
“From 100 percent 43.7 percent, right?” Saleh asked.
Cialone noted the ordinance would incentivize more development and tearing down buildings.
“It’s hard to say what is the right thing to do here,” she noted.
Saleh thought there could be affordable housing included in low-density zones.
Marione noted they did try to create caps on story limits in different zones.
“I’m just trying to preserve certain parts of the city. Who’s making the money? These developers, they’re screwing the people of Jersey City. People are moving out. People are tired of it!” Boggiano explained, noting he wants to preserve one- to four-family homes.
“Come to Ward C. It’s disgraceful what’s going on. What have they (developers) done for the community? Nothing! Everything is gone. Let’s get it passed in September and do it the right way.”
At the council’s regular meeting last night, City Clerk Sean Gallagher read the amendment into the record for the ordinance for introduction.
Solomon asked if it was the introduction of an amendment or an ordinance.
“The amendment is included in the ordinance,” Gallagher replied.
“I’m going to abstain for now,” Solomon said.
The amendment to the first reading ordinance passed 6-0(3), with Councilman-at-Large, Daniel Rivera, Watterman, and Solomon abstaining.
Boggiano said the community favors restrictions on high-rise buildings and affordable housing. He also noted the desire to preserve the existing character of Zone 4 and Zone 4a, which are made up of one- to four-family homes.
The ordinance then passed by the same tally as the amendment, 6-0(3).
Gallagher explained that the similar ordinance on second reading should then be intentionally defeated without a hearing.
“We’re going to continue the conversation. I’m for affordable housing too. We need affordable housing throughout all of Journal Square,” Saleh declared before voting no.
Solomon said he abstained because he thought the ordinance could be a model. Also, the planning board recommended the ordinance in this form with no exemptions, which he supported to applause.
“I’ve been fighting for affordable units for my whole existence. It’s a give and take. We want people to stay somewhere at a reasonable rate,” added Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore.
He also noted the need to preserve smaller family homes and said more dialogue is needed.
“It’s a huge problem in Jersey City with these high rises going everywhere. The damage has pretty much all been done. We’re figuring ways to band-aid patch wounds that need surgery.”
Councilwoman-at-Large Amy DeGise said this proposal won’t delay affordable housing and supported Boggiano’s push to preserve neighborhoods in his ward before voting no.
“I’m going to abstain. This is so confusing and probably for the public [too]. When you do eliminate certain zones, you eliminate affordable housing. I’m for affordable housing. There should be a limit on the height. I think we could have rolled this out in a better way. We are going to lose affordable housing,” Watterman added.
Ultimately, the measure was defeated 6-1(2), with Solomon voting yes while Watterman and Rivera abstained.
During public comment, Journal Square Community Association Affordable Housing Task Force Chair Michael Ehrmann said Zone 1 is built out and Zone 3 is half built out, making the ordinance less effective than it should be.
He claimed he had an agreement on exemptions with Boggiano, which the councilman did not follow through. Ehrmann also dismissed issues with preserving neighborhood character.
He and several other JSQCA members came out against the amended plan on Tuesday.
Additionally, Sandy Giacobbe also spoke out against the exemptions and preferred the ordinance on second reading that was defeated.
“It would have increased the affordable housing in our great city: Please reconsider,” he said to applause.
“The damage has already been done…”
Richard Boggiano had two years to work with the JSQCA on their proposed ordinance and failed to do so. Then, at the 11th hour, he proposed SIGNIFICANT exemptions that will MATERIALLY reduce the amount of affordable housing that will be built in Journal Square, supposedly to preserve neighborhood character. Boggiano is more interested in preserving buildings than keeping people in their homes and we will all suffer because of it and because it seems only one or two people on this city council have the backbone to stand up and say that council deference is a misguided approach. Shame on Richard Boggiano for constantly complaining about people being pushed out and then blocking efforts to prevent that from happening and shame on the City Council for going along with it.