Week Ahead: Scramble to Spend Housing Funds, Plus a Play & Concert

The on Tuesday is intending to approve $250,000 to help create a group home on Vail Terrace for adults with developmental disabilities, with the money coming from a dedicated fund to which local developers have contributed.

Township officials already have discussed that they have two choices: Let the money be used to contribute toward state-ordered affordable housing — or lose the money to the state.

"Obviously we are trying to use it up before the state comes to confiscate it," said Bernards Township Committeeman John Malay.

Malay said on Sunday evening that the township has for a while been looking at the proposal from Our House, Inc. to purchase an existing home at 17 Vail Terrace to transform it into a four-bedroom group home for adults with developmental disabilities. The home stands on about 1.3 acres of property.

State deadline approaching on July 17 for allocating unused funds

Bruce McArthur said late in June many communities had been taken by surprise to find that the legislation that created the developer's funds to finance state-ordered affordable housing in municipalities around the state had included a small clause that the state had the right to take the money if it wasn't used within four years. The affordable housing legislation requires developers to contribute a small percentage of money spend on building new homes to be set aside for in the host community's affordable housing projects.

McArthur said that Bernards Township has spent about $7 million from the developers' fund for building or renovating affordable housing projects in previous decades, including units for low-income senior citizens at senior housing.

The township has contributed $500,000 to group homes as well, such as the Melissa Riggio Residence with on the grounds of the

Malay noted that Our House was a partner in the development of that project as well. He said he is proud of the projects that Bernards Township has fostered — and included in its approved plans for affordable housing development — that provided a place to live for low-income residents and those with disabilities.

Other group home projects that have been discussed with township officials include a residence for adults with cerebral palsy and for adults with autism, Malay noted. He added that funding will continue to come into the developers' fund to contribute toward affordable housing — although at a slower rate than in the past since development has slowed.

The proposed group home would be within be a one-story, single-family structure consisting of four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living room, eat-in kitchen, office, laundry room, and front and rear handicapped accessible ramps, according to the agenda for the Tuesday meeting printed on the township website.

Township officials reported during the last meeting that Our House needed to complete a contract and pin down other financial commitments before the township could vote to allocate funds for the proposed group home.

Other events and meetings coming up this week:

• The township's Environmental Commission meets at 7 p.m. on Monday the 1 Collyer Lane.

• Student Golf Days at the off Valley Road, Tuesdays and Thursdays, for experienced student golfers ages 14 to 23, $18 for nine holes.

• Skip the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, and instead head over at 7 p.m. to Pleasant Valley Park to see The Jersey Four, a journey from the very beginning of The Four Seasons Number No. 1 Hits, through Frankie Valli`s solo career, to present day Four Seasons shows.

• The Bernards Township Parks and Recreation Department's annual, and free, Family Fun Night, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the township's Harry Dunham Park off Somerville Road in the Liberty Corner section of the township.

• Outdoor movie, "Happy Feet Two," (PG) at 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Harry Dunham Park.

• The township's very own Trilogy Theater Company and the parks and recreation department present Trilogy's staging of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," at 8 p.m. at this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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