CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

Notice is hereby given that the following Ordinance was Introduced and passed on First
Reading on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The Ordinance will be further considered on
Second Reading and Final Passage at the Regular Meeting of the Orange City Council
to be held at City Hall, 29 North Day Street, Orange, New Jersey on Wednesday,
November 4 2026 at 7:00 P.M. at which time and place all persons who may be
interested therein will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning same.
Information regarding remote access to the meeting may be found on the City’s website
at www.orangenj.gov. and Council’s website at www.orangetwpnjcc.org. During the
week prior to and up to and including the date of such meeting copies of the full
ordinance will be available at no cost and during regular business hours at the Clerk’s
office or on the Council’s website for the members of the general public who shall
request the same.

54-2026

ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP TO APPROVE A TAX
EXEMPTION FOR A TWENTY-THREE (23) YEAR PERIOD, AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND RAKHEE ENTERPRISE URBAN RENEWAL
LLC
WHEREAS, the properties located at 339, 345, 351, and 355 Henry Street, Orange, New
Jersey 07050, which are identified on the City tax map as Block 3704, Lots 33, 34, 35, and 36
(collectively, the “Property”), are located within the Central Orange Redevelopment Area,
District B (the “Redevelopment Area”) and are governed by the Central Orange Redevelopment
Plan (the “Redevelopment Plan”); and
WHEREAS, the City of Orange Township, in the County of Essex, New Jersey (the
“City”) has heretofore designated the Redevelopment Area and adopted the Redevelopment Plan
in accordance with the provisions of the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A.
40A:12A-1 et seq. (the “Redevelopment Law”); and
WHEREAS, Rakhee Enterprise Urban Renewal LLC, having its principal place of
business at 1 Azalea Trail, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 (the “Entity”), has proposed a
redevelopment project consisting of the demolition of the existing structures on the Property and
the construction of a four-story, 32-unit multifamily residential building, with 39 ground-level
garage parking spaces and resident amenity spaces, as well as various site improvements to
landscaping, lighting, and stormwater management (collectively, the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the Project will conform to the zoning requirements within the
Redevelopment Plan and all applicable municipal zoning ordinances, to the extent they contain
provisions that are relevant to the Project, and will also conform with the master plan of the City;
and

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WHEREAS, the City is authorized under the provisions of the Long Term Tax Exemption
Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:20-1 et seq. (the “LTTE Law”) to grant tax exemptions to qualifying entities
constructing redevelopment projects within redevelopment areas governed by redevelopment plans
and to enter into financial agreements with such entities governing payments made to the City in
lieu of real estate taxes on the Project; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:20-8, the Entity filed an application (the
“Application”) with the City for approval of a long-term tax exemption for the improvements to
be constructed in connection with the Project and has agreed to enter into a financial agreement
with the City (the “Financial Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Financial Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which the
Entity and the City shall carry out their respective obligations with respect to the long-term tax
exemption for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, together with counsel for the City, has reviewed the Application
and found that it complies with the provisions of the LTTE Law; and
WHEREAS, the Entity has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Mayor and City Council
that the granting of a long-term tax exemption and payments in lieu of taxes will improve the
quality of life for the occupants of the Project and the quality of life for the City of Orange: and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council find that the relative benefits of the Project to the
City outweigh the costs to the City associated with granting the long term tax exemption in that it
will provide needed housing, create both temporary and permanent jobs within the City, enhance
the quality of life for residents in and around the Project, and influence the locational decisions of
probable new residents; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the assistance provided to the Project
pursuant to the Financial Agreement is necessary for the creation of the Project and will be a
significant inducement for the Entity to proceed with the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Financial Agreement represents an arm’s length transaction between the
parties and all promises and agreements, express or implied, payment of fees or other benefits,
terms or conditions related thereto are incorporated therein as it concerns the Project and the
parties hereto as well as their agents and servants; and
WHEREAS, the Entity hereby certifies its compliance with the applicable municipal
ordinances as well as the strictures of the LTTE Law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Orange
Township as follows:
SECTION 1: PROVISIONS
1. The Entity’s Application is hereby approved.
2. The Financial Agreement providing for a long-term tax exemption and payments in
lieu of taxes on the improvements to be constructed in connection with the Project

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is hereby approved with the intent that upon execution of the Financial Agreement
and upon the terms set forth therein, the improvements will be exempt from
taxation for a period of twenty-three (23) years.
3. The Mayor of the City is hereby authorized to execute the Financial Agreement
substantially in the form as it has been presented to the City Council subject to
modification or revision deemed necessary and appropriate in consultation with
counsel.
4. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed, upon the execution of the
Financial Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth herein, to attest to the
signature of the Mayor upon such document, and is hereby further authorized and
directed to thereupon affix the corporate seal of the City upon such document.
5. The City Clerk shall file certified copies of this ordinance and the Financial
Agreement with the Tax Assessor of the City and the Director of the Division of
Local Government Services within the Department of Community Affairs in
accordance with Section 12 of the LTTE Law.
SECTION 2: INCONSISTENCIES
All other ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict or inconsistent with this ordinance
are hereby repealed but only to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency.
SECTION 3: HEADINGS
All headings within this ordinance are for convenience only and are not deemed to
be part of this ordinance.
SECTION 4: EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall take effect as required by law.