Cape May County Lawmaker Says New Workforce Housing Plans Are in the Works

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — New workforce and affordable housing initiatives could be coming to Cape May County as local and state officials work to address the growing difficulty of finding homes that year-round residents can afford.

Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, R-Cape May, said county commissioners and state lawmakers have been working together on plans to expand housing opportunities for workers and families who want to live in the county.

McClellan discussed the issue Monday, Sept. 21, during an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND. Assemblyman Don Guardian, R-Atlantic, served as guest host.

"Housing is a big thing in Cape May, as you know. And our workforce housing is huge," McClellan told Guardian.

The discussion comes as Cape May County faces competing pressures involving housing affordability, land preservation and the need to maintain a year-round workforce in a region heavily dependent on tourism.

McClellan Says Housing Initiatives Are Taking Shape

McClellan said state and county officials have been developing approaches intended to increase the supply of housing for working residents and households with low to moderate incomes.

"I think we've come up with some formulas that will be able to work to supply workforce housing and also low to moderate income housing for folks that need it as well," McClellan said.

He suggested that several initiatives could begin producing results in the coming years.

"There's some plans and some fires that are in the fire that are going to be coming to fruition for our year-round residents in the Cape May County," he said.

McClellan did not identify specific development sites, the number of housing units being considered, funding sources or anticipated construction dates.

His comments indicate that housing initiatives are being discussed and developed, but they do not establish that any particular project has received final approval or financing.

McClellan expressed optimism that the county's housing situation could improve as those efforts move forward.

"So you'll hear in the next couple of years that the housing problem will be less in Cape May County than it is around the rest of the state," he said.

That prediction reflects McClellan's expectations rather than a confirmed outcome.

Preserved Land Adds Another Dimension to Housing Debate

The discussion follows recent reporting by South Jersey NewsBeat examining the relationship between Cape May County's extensive land preservation efforts and the availability of property for future housing development.

In a Sept. 19 article, Cape May County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Director Kevin Quinn discussed the importance of balancing environmental conservation with the need to maintain enough developable land for housing and other community needs.

County planning documents identified 65,231.6 acres of preserved open space in Cape May County, including land protected through county, municipal, state and federal programs.

Quinn said preservation decisions must consider the long-term consequences of removing property from potential development.

"If we're taking the wrong properties out of the equation, it could have a detrimental effect on, you know, the affordability," Quinn told South Jersey NewsBeat during an interview on WOND.

Quinn emphasized that the county is not seeking to abandon land preservation. Instead, officials are trying to identify properties with meaningful conservation value while considering whether other parcels may be needed for future community development.

The challenge is particularly significant in Cape May County, where beaches, wetlands, protected natural areas and seasonal housing demand all influence the availability and cost of homes for permanent residents.

Read our previous report: Cape May County Has More Than 65,000 Acres of Preserved Land. How Much Is Enough? 

Guardian Says Housing Affordability Extends Beyond Lower-Income Households

During Monday's interview, Guardian raised concerns about residents who earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing programs but still struggle to purchase homes.

He suggested that households earning between approximately $92,000 and $200,000 annually can face significant challenges in the current housing market.

"I think right now we also have to worry about people that in that ninety two thousand to maybe two hundred thousand because they can't afford to buy a home either now," Guardian said.

The income figures cited by Guardian were illustrative. Actual eligibility for affordable housing programs depends on factors including household size, location and the applicable program's income limits.

Guardian also emphasized the importance of locating new housing near transportation, employment opportunities, schools and other essential services.

"We got to build housing where there's services that can support them," he said.

He cautioned against placing affordable housing in locations where residents would have difficulty reaching jobs or accessing transportation and other community resources.

Another Housing Proposal Involves Cape May County Airport

Cape May County has also explored opportunities to create housing on property associated with Cape May County Airport in Lower Township.

A proposal involving approximately 18 acres of airport property has contemplated residential development, including townhomes intended primarily to address housing needs for Coast Guard personnel.

The concept has required consideration of federal aviation requirements governing the use of airport property.

The airport proposal is separate from the housing initiatives McClellan discussed during Monday's interview. He did not identify it as one of the projects currently being developed by county and state officials.

Nevertheless, it illustrates another approach being considered to address housing availability in a county where suitable development sites can be difficult to find.

State Housing Requirements Remain Part of the Discussion

McClellan also discussed New Jersey's affordable housing obligations, including the state's Mount Laurel framework, which requires municipalities to provide a realistic opportunity for their fair share of affordable housing.

He said county and state officials have been working with local governments to address those requirements while developing housing opportunities that meet the needs of year-round residents.

McClellan credited county commissioners and fellow state lawmakers for their involvement in the issue.

He also emphasized the importance of consulting municipal officials who must address housing requirements and development decisions within their communities.

The interview did not establish whether the initiatives McClellan referenced would involve new construction, redevelopment of existing properties, public-private partnerships or changes to local land-use policies.

What Happens Next?

McClellan's comments suggest that additional workforce and affordable housing proposals could emerge in Cape May County over the next several years.

However, the details that would determine their potential impact — including locations, housing-unit counts, affordability requirements, funding and construction schedules — have not yet been announced.

For year-round residents, those details will be essential in determining whether the initiatives can provide additional housing opportunities in communities where home prices and the limited availability of suitable development sites present ongoing challenges.

The discussion also underscores the need to balance several priorities: preserving Cape May County's natural resources, meeting state housing obligations and ensuring that workers and families have places to live near their jobs and community services.

McClellan said he expects cooperation among state, county and municipal officials to produce results in the coming years.

For now, the specific projects and their potential impact on the county's housing supply remain to be seen.

Assemblyman Antwan McClellan discussed Cape May County housing during an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick, guest-hosted by Assemblyman Don Guardian, on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND on Monday, Sept. 21. The program airs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.