Brick Opposes N.J. Bill That Would Permit High Density Housing on Religious, Nonprofit Properties

The New Visions, formerly Nobility Crest, development under construction in Brick, N.J. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Brick officials this week unanimously passed a resolution opposing a pending bill in the state legislature that would allow high-density, low-income housing on virtually any property owned by a religious institution or nonprofit group, supplanting local zoning ordinances.

The proposal by state Sens. Troy Singleton (D-Camden, Burlington) and Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic) would allow the development of what New Jersey defines as an “inclusionary development” on land owned by religious and nonprofit organizations. An inclusionary development is a residential housing development “in which a substantial percentage of the housing units are provided for a reasonable income range of low- and moderate-income households.” The bill would permit such property to be converted to affordable housing developments that would be allowed a density of 40 units per acre, at a height one story above whatever the maximum height normally allowed in that zone.

Each development allowed under the bill would be required to offer 20 percent of the units built to be designated affordable housing, with 50 percent of the affordable units reserved for “low income” housing. Of those low income units, 13 percent would have to be designated for “very low income” tenants.

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The bill requires a municipal planning board to approve an application to repurpose or redevelop an eligible property into an inclusionary development with affordable housing, regardless of the eligible property’s location in the municipality as long as it conforms to the provision limiting the development to 40 units per acre and no more than the one-story of additional height. Planning boards would be unable to deny such an application, even if it falls outside of a zone where dense or multifamily housing is permitted.

“This bill would limit Brick Township’s ability to reject these applications,” said Councilman Derrick Ambrosino. “The proposed legislation allows for up for 40 residential units per acre at a height of one story above the maximum height in the zone, which would be catastrophic to the environment, infrastructure and overall quality of life in Brick.”

The resolution passed by the council states the bill would “greatly impact municipal operations” and “decrease a municipality’s historic right to grant or deny the approval of land use applications.” The land use element of Brick Township’s master plan lists 106.38 acres of land currently exempt from property taxes since it is owned by religious or nonprofit organizations.

The state Senate bill does not yet have a companion bill in the General Assembly, nor has it been considered by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee for release to the full body. It was introduced Oct. 27, 2025.