Mayor crate limits brick affordable housing demands to just 106 units

BRICK, N.J. – As towns like nearby Jackson Township settled for over 1,000 units of affordable housing, Brick Mayor Lisa Crate, like Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick pushed back hard against the state demands and was able to limit the township’s state mandate to just 106 units over a ten year period.

That’s an amazing accomplishment for the community.

Brick Township has finalized a long-term agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center that will define the community’s affordable housing obligations for the next decade, marking the end of a complex negotiation that could have reshaped development across the township. The deal commits Brick to creating 106 affordable housing credits over ten years, far below the 360 units the State originally mandated.

Mayor Lisa Crate said the outcome reflects both legal necessity and community stewardship.

“Providing affordable housing was not optional for the Township — it was mandatory,” she said. “This agreement is the result of countless hours of hard work and thoughtful, meaningful negotiations. We are confident it addresses a real and pressing need in our community while preserving our ability to responsibly guide future development in Brick Township.”

The Township plans to meet the obligation through a combination of new construction and existing housing initiatives. Fifty-three new residential units will be built, with the remainder of the credits achieved by extending affordability controls on existing properties and through other mechanisms allowed under state regulations.

Brick was required to secure an agreement by the end of December to maintain immunity from so-called “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, which allow developers to bypass local zoning if municipalities fail to comply with state affordable housing rules. Losing that protection would have opened most developable land in Brick to high-density projects with limited local oversight. “The penalties for failing to reach an agreement and remain compliant with the State’s affordable housing rules would have been devastating for Brick Township,” Crate said.

The Township’s initial plan proposed just 29 units over ten years, based on internal projections, but that plan was challenged by developers in court. The settlement ends the litigation and ensures Brick retains local control while meeting state obligations.

Crate underscored that the new units are intended for working residents, not subsidized voucher programs. “I want to be clear — these are affordable housing units, not Section 8 housing,” she said. “These are homes, condominiums, and townhomes that working people can realistically afford. As the cost of living continues to rise, the goal of owning or even renting a place of their own is increasingly out of reach, particularly for young working families. These units will help give more people the opportunity to achieve that dream.”

The agreement, which took months of negotiation and legal review, positions Brick Township to meet its housing obligations through a balanced approach that preserves local planning authority while addressing community needs.

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