It Is Not Too Late To Extend COAH Deadline

December 30, 2008

Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Andrew Ciesla (R-10), Senator Christopher Bateman (R-16)

Economic Crisis, Questionable Requirements and Conflicting Reports Add to Confusion of Tomorrow’s Deadline

Senators Andy Ciesla (R-10) and Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16) are calling for an extension of tomorrow’s deadline requiring municipalities to finalize their plans to meet the latest round of housing obligations from the state.

“Constructing and upgrading affordable housing units for low and moderate income residents is a worthy public policy goal that deserves ample attention from lawmakers at all levels of government, ” Ciesla stated. “However, a number of reasonable questions have been raised regarding the latest COAH regulations that make the need for an extension obvious.”

The COAH regulations were met with immediate opposition after it was revealed that data used to map out where new affordable housing units could be built included private homeowners backyards, highway medians and rest stops and part of the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal.

Then on December 15, the Corzine administration issued the “Draft Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report, ” which included recommendations for smart growth and housing development. Senator Ciesla immediately questioned how anyone can reasonably expect local governments to factor zoning recommendations issued by the Corzine Administration on December 15 into COAH plans that are due on December 31.

There have also been concerns raised that the new COAH regulations will slow economic development and cause huge property tax increases across the state.

“The Governor and Legislature should address the COAH issue the next time we meet on January 13, ” Batemen added. “We should immediately freeze all municipal COAH plans that were submitted at the end of this year and have a six month window where we can sufficiently address the mounting questions dealing with the new Global Warming Report, faulty land data and potentially huge property tax increases. There is no justifiable reason why we cannot do this.”

Senator Bateman has introduced legislation (Senate Bill 2448) that would extend the deadline for municipalities filing a fair share housing plan from December 31, 2008, to June 30, 2009.

Link to Post:

http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/ciesla/it-is-not-too-late-to-extend-coah-deadline/1932