New Providence Council Preview: Affordable Housing, Nokia, and Key Funding Decisions

NEW PROVIDENCE – Looking at whats important at tonight’s council meeting in New Providence (sorry I’m a little behind)…

The star of tonight’s show is Ordinance 2026-01 which..

-Expands the Affordable Housing Overlay to specific blocks and lots, keeps underlying zoning as an option

-Allows redevelopment that includes residential and affordable housing components.

-Establishes density standards and sets aside 20% of all units for very low to moderate income households

-Creates the St. Andrews Church Affordable Housing District allowing up to 27 total units (24 affordable housing) alongside the church.

The ordinance connects to Nokia and creates a Nokia Affordable Housing District intended for mixed use development which includes multi -family units, townhouses, retail, a hotel, affordable housing and open space – intended to complement design and programming for the remaining area of the Nokia property in Berkeley Heights.” 

Another Ordinance, 2026-02 overhauls the affordable housing code to match state law.

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Spending Plan (the money behind the policy) has NP’s trust fund balance at $889,577 as of 12/31/2025 with an anticipated balance of over $2M through June 2035. It lays out projected expenditures of about $1,414,596.13 for rehab and new construction, $906,989.88 for assistance, and $476,541 for admin. It also indicates the Borough will cover any shortfalls through bonding if funding sources aren’t adequate. 

Other Items…

-NP is looking for 245k through Kean’s FY2027 Community Project Funding to purchase 47 replacement radios for the Police Dept.

-Five year agreement with Axon for police equipment NTE $228, 480.85 (~46k/year)

-Maple Street Improvement- requests that NJDOT extends contract award deadline to Oct. 30, 2026 due to project coordination, design tweaks, right of way impacts and stakeholder concerns

-$135k is being pulled from several accounts into Road Repair-Snow Removal and then another resolution moves it to the Snow Removal Storm Recovery Trust fund

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