When it comes to housing in Plainfield Township, what’s available doesn’t match what’s needed.
A 2022 Master Plan study showed single family homes make up more than 75% of housing stock yet less than 30% of households are families raising children.
Planner Elizabeth Curcio says affordability isn’t just about lowering home prices - it’s about expanding housing types.
“There's a large portion of our population that could be better suited to a different, potentially less expensive housing type, like an attached condo or a townhome, an accessory dwelling unit, even an apartment unit.”
Under the township’s 2024 Master Plan, planners are drafting ordinance updates, starting with allowing accessory dwelling units - or ADUs - in all residential zoning districts.
“They are extremely in demand right now. Everyone wants one on their property, either to accommodate an additional rental stream or their son or daughter or aging mother-in-law, whatever it may be.”
But adding density comes with challenges.
“The easily developable land, these kind of large, undeveloped swaths of acreage - they're just gone now, right? All the easy land has been developed. So, we're in the process of retrofitting existing communities, existing neighborhoods to try to accommodate more density.”
Curcio acknowledges residents want to protect the character of existing neighborhoods, ensuring higher density units blend in.
She notes the process is in the early stages and the township will offer many opportunities for public input.
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