Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick sharply criticized the Township Council majority Tuesday after members rejected a revised affordable housing settlement during a special meeting Monday night, warning that the decision could expose the township to lawsuits and potentially thousands of new apartments.

The latest rejection follows months of disagreements between the mayor and Township Council over how Toms River should meet its state-mandated affordable housing obligations. As previously reported by Lakewood Alerts, the township initially approved a settlement in December 2025, but subsequent disputes over proposed developments, including the Jamestown project and properties along Route 70 and Route 9, led to repeated revisions and council votes against portions of the plan.

According to Rodrick, the state and Fair Share Housing Center initially sought approximately 1,870 affordable housing units over the next decade, including 670 units under the current obligation and another 1,200 associated with a disputed previous period. The mayor warned that satisfying those demands through traditional developments containing 20% affordable apartments could have resulted in more than 8,000 total apartments.

Rodrick said his administration negotiated a settlement that would address more than 400 affordable housing units through 30-year deed restrictions on existing apartments, while approximately 250 new affordable units would be constructed through two developments along Route 9. Both proposed developments would consist entirely of affordable housing, eliminating the need for additional market-rate apartments at those locations.

The mayor accused council members of reversing their positions after reportedly assuring retired Superior Court Judge Mark Troncone, the court-appointed mediator, that they would support the revised agreement.

“What happened last night was absolutely outrageous,” Rodrick said. “These council members told the court-appointed mediator they would support these projects. A former Mount Laurel judge explained exactly what was at stake, and they assured him they would move forward.”

Rodrick also claimed council members refused to allow him to speak during Monday’s meeting, preventing him from explaining the agreement, answering questions, or warning residents about the potential consequences of rejecting the settlement.

The mayor further accused the council majority of allowing political disagreements to influence its decisions, pointing to members’ connections with former Mayor Mo Hill, who attended Monday’s meeting.

Rodrick specifically criticized Council President Dave Ciccozzi, saying he had previously indicated support for one of the proposed Route 9 developments, known as the Owl project, during mediation discussions.

According to the administration, the township repeatedly modified its affordable housing proposals in response to council objections. Those changes included removing a proposed Route 70 development and replacing it with another 100% affordable housing project along Route 9.

Rodrick also questioned the council’s rejection of a proposal to extend affordability restrictions on 19 existing apartments, which he said would have helped satisfy the township’s housing obligations without requiring any new construction.

“That’s 19 affordable units without one shovel going into the ground,” Rodrick said. “How can they claim they’re protecting Toms River from overdevelopment when they’re voting against a measure that requires absolutely no new construction?”

The mayor warned that failure to finalize an acceptable housing plan could jeopardize Toms River’s protection from builder’s remedy lawsuits, which allow developers to seek court approval for housing projects that might otherwise be restricted under local zoning regulations.

The ongoing dispute has already resulted in multiple court extensions as township officials work to resolve disagreements over the proposed developments and compliance with New Jersey’s affordable housing requirements.

With an October 30 court filing deadline approaching and a December 7 hearing scheduled, Rodrick said his administration intends to ask the court to preserve the township’s legal protections while officials attempt to reach another resolution.

“I intend to go before the court and plead with the judge not to punish our residents for the reckless conduct of this council majority,” Rodrick said. “I will ask the court to show leniency toward the people of Toms River, preserve our immunity from builder’s remedy lawsuits, and give us an opportunity to find another solution.”

The mayor maintained that his administration would continue fighting to limit additional development while satisfying the township’s affordable housing requirements.

The accusations regarding council members’ political motivations and previous commitments were made by Rodrick in his statement. The council majority’s response to the latest criticism was not immediately available.