The Township of Maple Shade has a fair share obligation of 74 units,
of which none is new construction (inclusionary). This affirmative marketing
chapter shall apply to all developments that contain low- and moderate-income
housing units which are not currently part of the township's obligation.
The affirmative marketing plan is a regional marketing strategy designed
to attract income eligible households of all majority and minority groups,
regardless of sex, age or number of children, for the purpose of buying or
renting affordable housing units. The plan shall address the requirements
of N.J.A.C. 5:93-11. In addition, the plan prohibits discrimination in the
sale, rental, financing, etc., on the basis of race, color, sex, religion,
handicap, age, familial status/size or national origin. The Township of Maple
Shade is in the housing region consisting of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester
Counties. The affirmative marketing plan is a continuing program and shall
meet the following requirements:
A. All newspaper articles, announcements and requests for
applicants for low- and moderate-income housing shall appear in the following
daily regional newspaper(s): The Burlington Times, Camden Courier Post and
Gloucester County Times.
B. The initial advertising of affordable housing must take
the form of at least one press release and one paid display advertisement
in each of the above newspapers(s). At a minimum, the paid display advertisement
shall include the following:
(2) Directions to housing units.
(3) Number of bedrooms per unit.
(5) Prices or rents of units.
(6) Income range for qualifying households.
(7) Location of applications.
(8) Telephone number and office hours for obtaining information
and requesting applications.
C. Applications must be mailed to prospective applicants
upon request.
D. Public service announcements shall be made through the
use of the following radio and/or cable television stations broadcasting throughout
the region: WWJZ (640.0), Mount Holly Radio Co.; WGLS (89.7), Rowan College
of New Jersey; and WDBK (91.5), Camden County College.
E. Announcements, requests for applicants and newspaper
articles may be placed in the following neighborhood oriented weekly newspapers,
religious publications and organizational newsletters within Burlington, Camden
and Gloucester Counties as needed:
F. Affordable housing applications, brochures, signs and/or
announcements regarding the availability of affordable housing units within
the Township of Maple Shade shall be forwarded to and posted at the following
three large-scale employers within the region:
(1) Employers within commuting distance.
G. The following is a listing of community and regional
organizations in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties that will aid
in the affirmative marketing program with particular emphasis on contacts
that will reach out to groups that are least likely to apply for affordable
housing within the region:
(1) Affordable Housing Coalition of Burlington County.
(2) Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP).
(3) Tri-County Community Action Agency.
(4) Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity.
H. Affordable housing applications, brochures, announcements
and/or posters will be forwarded to and posted at the following locations:
(1) Developer's sales office.
(2) Municipal building and library.
(3) Burlington County Library.
(5) Gloucester County Library.
I. Quarterly informational circulars and applications shall
be sent to each of the following agencies for publication in their journals
and for circulating among their members:
(1) Board of Realtors in Burlington County.
(2) Board of Realtors in Camden County.
(3) Board of Realtors in Gloucester County.
J. Additional quarterly informational circulars and applications
shall be sent to the following nonprofit, religious, governmental, fraternal,
civic and community action agencies in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester
Counties:
(1) Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development, Inc.
(MEND).
(2) Jersey Counselling & Housing Development, Inc.
(3) Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey.
K. The following is a description of the random selection
method that will be used to select occupants of low- and moderate-income housing:
L. In the event that new low- and moderate-income units
are approved, the Township of Maple Shade will designate an administrative
entity to administer the affordable housing units. This entity will have the
responsibility to advertise and income qualify low- and moderate-income households;
to place eligible households in low- and moderate-income units upon initial
occupancy; to continue to qualify households for reoccupancy of units as they
become vacant; and to enforce the terms of the deed restriction. The Township
of Maple Shade or the administrative entity will provide counseling services
to low- and moderate-income applicants on subjects such as budgeting, credit
issues, mortgage qualifications, rental lease requirements and landlord-tenant
law. In addition, The Township of Maple Shade is designating (municipal staff
person and position) as a (full-time or part-time) "housing officer" to act
as liaison between the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and the municipality.
The municipal liaison will be responsible for tracking the progress of affordable
housing, fielding inquiries regarding affordable housing from the public and
COAH, complying with COAH monitoring and reporting requirements as per N.J.A.C.
5:93-11.6 and 5:93-12.1.
M. Developers/builders/sponsors of low- and moderate-income
housing units may be required by The Township of Maple Shade to assist in
the advertising of affordable units in their respective developments in accordance
with the preceding subsections. Such advertising must be coordinated with
the administrative entity to be designated and is subject to the approval
of the Township of Maple Shade.
N. The Township of Maple Shade may delegate other specific
tasks to a developer/builder/sponsor (such as interviewing applicants, pre-screening
households, etc.), provided that copies of all applications, income verification
documents, sales records, etc., of the low- and moderate-income units are
returned to the township or a designated administrative entity for reporting
purposes and to aid with future resales.
O. Households who live or work in the housing region of
Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties may be given preference for the
affordable housing units within the municipality. Applicants living outside
the housing region shall have an equal opportunity for units after intraregional
applicants have been processed. The Township of Maple Shade intends to comply
with N.J.A.C. 5:93-11.7.
P. The affirmative marketing plan for new units shall commence
120 days before the issuance of either temporary or permanent certificates
of occupancy. Affirmative marketing shall continue until all low- and moderate-income
housing units are initially occupied. Affirmative marketing for existing units
shall continue on an "as needed" basis for as long as affordable units are
deed restricted.