Developer Responds to Housing Plan Criticism

By Allison Perrine

RUMSON – Local developer Roger Mumford has responded to ongoing criticism following a Jan. 14 meeting in Rumson about the borough’s strategy to satisfy its state-mandated Mount Laurel “fair share” affordable housing obligations.

Hundreds of residents, some who were learning of Rumson’s current affordable plan for the first time, attended the meeting at Forrestdale School gymnasium. Mumford’s role in the development plans was hotly questioned by several residents who made public comments.

The commentary has continued on social media and other online platforms, “much of which is vicious, libelous and inaccurate,” Mumford said in an interview with The Two River Times Tuesday. He feels “misinformed” residents are “seeking to destroy” him and his wife, a real estate broker, “both personally and professionally,” he said.

“I realize people don’t like change. However, people do not have the right to criminalize legal activity and to defame the character of businessmen and women of the highest caliber,” he said.

The lengthy Jan. 14 meeting featured a presentation by borough planner Kendra Lelie explaining how Rumson will create low- and moderate-income housing. The plans are part of a settlement agreement struck with the Cherry Hill-based affordable housing advocates Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC).

Red Bank-based Yellow Brook Property Co., LLC, owned by Mumford, played a role in the settlement, which will result in housing on Rumson Road, Bingham Avenue and Carton Street. Working with the town, Mumford negotiated an agreement to build luxury market-rate units on rezoned areas of Bingham Avenue and Rumson Road.

Mumford will contribute $1.35 million toward the town’s construction of affordable housing at 62 Carton St. In addition, he said he will convey his land on Carton Street, to the borough for $1, effectively. The land’s tax assessment is $1.65 million.

Mumford has been criticized by some for planning to build market-rate housing only at Bingham Avenue and Rumson Road and not any affordable housing. He called that charge “invalid.” “We are contributing the land and dollars towards constructions on Carton Street in lieu of building the affordable housing with the market rate housing on the other two sites,” he said.

He added that his original plans included affordable housing at Rumson Road and Bingham Avenue sites. Ultimately, through confidential negotiations, Mumford said it was determined that the affordable housing would be built on Carton Street. “The rezoning of the market rate (housing) pro- vided the economic generator to fund the affordable housing,” he said.

The borough’s total affordable housing obligation is 603 units, comprised of 29 rehabilitation units, 268 units from the prior Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) round and 335 for the most recent COAH round lasting through 2025. It’s realistic development potential (RDP), however, is 51 units. The remaining obligation, an unmet need of 552, will be addressed with inclusionary overlay zoning and additional ordinances. The inclusionary overlay zoning will allow property owners to keep a property as is or, if they choose, to one day develop multifamily housing with affordable set-asides.

At the Bingham Avenue site there will be 18 duplex units, 3.5 duplexes per acre, and 43 parking spaces. At the Rumson Road site, there will be 16 triplex/carriage house units, 2.75 per acre, and 31 parking spaces. There will be no affordable housing set-asides at either site.

It was alleged at the meeting that had Mumford not stepped in, Rumson’s RDP would have been lower. Mumford said that’s not accurate.

“That presupposes that the FSHC was in agreement with the lower RDP number and they were not. Does anybody really think that an educated mayor and council and the best outside lawyers and planners that money could buy would agree to settle with me if they really thought they would prevail in court? Versus seeing a much, much greater exposure?” said Mumford.

Since the meeting Jan. 14, residents have taken steps to try and stop some of the plans in motion. A Facebook Page titled “Save the Lauriston Estate – 91 Rumson Road” was established and has over 460 likes and 470 followers. The Lauriston Estate is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1870 by architect Leon Cubberly. It has a tile and stucco structure with Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival influences, the Historic Preservation Commission states.

The now “dilapidated” building will be demolished, Mumford said.

The administrators of the Facebook page, Katie Johnson and Gwendolyn Wisely, said they wanted to bring attention to the fate of the mansion which has a rich Rumson history. It was not highlighted at the presentation and the two felt it was important to bring that to light.

More than 1,300 residents have also signed an online petition to create “a community-guided approach to affordable housing in the Borough of Rumson,” as it’s titled. It alleges there was a gag-ordered deal to rezone two parcels “for a developers personal gain under the name of Affordable Housing, while not actually providing any affordable housing units to the Borough.”

Mumford said the petition is riddled with misinformation and is “feeding a false narrative.” He said there was no gag order; negotiations were done confidentially. And township officials were not forced to sign the agreement, but if they were to agree to sign it, their deadline was Jan. 17. The council ultimately agreed to sign the agreements at the Jan. 14 meeting.

The Two River Times reached out to borough attorney Martin Barger and asked if transcripts of the private negotiations would ever be released to the public. He did not respond. Additionally, some people have speculated that Mumford and other developers throughout the state have made financial contributions to FSHC. Mumford said he has never done that, nor has his wife.

Anthony Campisi, FSHC spokesperson, said the center receives grants from state and national foundations, such as the Fund for New Jersey and the Ford Foundation, and attorney’s fees from litigation it is involved in.

He added that the nonprofit center’s IRS Form 990 “is available online and provides additional information regarding funds it receives and expenditures.”

In a statement to The Two River Times, Mayor Joseph Hemphill said: “As stated during the public meeting on January 14, 2020, we remain committed to our presentation and comments. At this point, we are focused on the next steps in the process and moving forward. We have made the presentation available on The Borough of Rumson home page. All questions regarding the presentation can be directed to Rumson Borough Hall where someone will be happy to assist.”