Politics
Camden approves mixed-use zoning with affordability requirements for waterfront projects
The July 9 vote means Camden residents living near the waterfront and downtown corridors will face revised permitting processes for new residential projects that include required affordable units.
How we reported this
At its July 9 meeting the Camden City Council passed a mixed-use zoning ordinance on a 5-2 vote that raises allowable residential density in designated commercial zones while requiring 20 percent of units in qualifying projects to meet affordability criteria outlined in the resolution.
The ordinance responds to updated state housing production targets that took effect in 2025 and requires municipalities to demonstrate progress toward regional fair-share obligations through local zoning adjustments.
Residents in neighborhoods such as Cooper Plaza and the Cramer Hill area may encounter more applications for four- to six-story buildings that combine ground-floor retail with apartments above, potentially altering on-street parking availability and access to existing small businesses during construction periods.
Comparisons with Neighboring Jurisdictions
Under the new rules Camden requires the same 20 percent affordable set-aside that Jersey City adopted in its 2024 zoning update, while Newark applies a 15 percent threshold and Trenton uses a 10 percent minimum for projects of similar scale, according to the council's supporting staff report.
Next Steps and Local Effects
City staff will begin accepting applications under the revised code in September 2026, with the first projects expected to reach the planning board by early 2027. The legislation states that developers must submit traffic impact studies for any project exceeding 50 units, a requirement already in place in several Bergen County municipalities.
Local property owners will receive notice of pending applications within 200 feet of proposed sites, and the city projects that the changes will add approximately 300 new housing units annually once fully implemented, based on current development pipeline figures referenced in the July 9 staff presentation.