Bill Would Give Municipalities Right to Set Housing Policies
Senator Sean Kean (R-11) has sponsored legislation that would give towns the authority to enact policies for affordable housing requirements.
The measure was drafted in response to the new rules recently issued by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) that will require municipalities in New Jersey to construct thousands of affordable housing units.
Kean said the COAH rules would require nearly 3,000 affordable housing units to be built in Monmouth County alone.
“The recently issued COAH rules will require the construction of hundreds of affordable housing units that will ultimately lead to overcrowding in our communities and additional burdens on taxpayers,” said Kean. “This legislation recognizes the need for affordable housing by mandating a portion of development be set aside towards these units. However, it requires the state fund these mandates rather than the taxpayers.”
The bill, S-2292, eliminates the growth share approach of COAH as applied to commercial and industrial development so that towns would not be required to construct additional housing units based on the growth of these construction projects. The legislation would also reestablish regional contribution agreements to assist municipalities in meeting their affordable housing obligations.
“Monmouth County is comprised of many communities that would be greatly impacted by the effects of constructing hundreds of new housing units,” said Kean. “This bill would reduce the number of affordable housing units required in each town which would in turn prevent an increase in property taxes.”
Under the measure, municipalities would be permitted to fulfill their affordable housing requirements through local rental voucher programs. The bill excludes preserved open space from being factored into a town’s COAH obligation. It would also require that all subsidized housing would count towards the affordable housing requirement in each municipality. In addition, there would be occupancy preference for veterans in all affordable housing units.
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June 23, 2008
