Is this the amendment we've been hoping for...

[Jersey Dad]

Except from Tom Hester's article in the Star-Ledger 6/10/08...

Other amendments would extend the same fee break to commercial developments in Newark and Jersey City and require the state to consider the amount of protected land in a town when deciding how much affordable hous ing should be constructed there.

http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1213072636175250.xml&coll=1

[James]

Fingers crossed, but it doesn't say what consideration would be given.

Reading the article it really makes me wonder about Sen. Lesniak and where his donations for office are generated. It seems he is the biggest builder supporter I have seen in a long time. He seems very open, even to the point of bragging, about using office to generate private revenue based upon political favors.

If you want a scary read on this Senator check out this NY Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/nyregion/09lesniak.html

[Guest]

[Cranbury Conservative]

Here is the complete list of amendments which came out of the appropriations committee last week.


COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The amendments clarify the methodology to be used in calculating the fair share housing obligation under the “Fair Housing Act,” when replacing a unit of housing to forbid the replacement unit to be credited against the prospective fair share of a municipality.

The amendments provide a new State target for very low income housing of 13 percent.

The amendments provide that a municipality need not spend its development fees within four years, but rather must commit to spend them within four years.

The amendments change the name of the “Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Fund” to be the “Urban Housing Assistance Fund,” and clarify that it may be used for new construction as well as rehabilitation of affordable housing.

The amendments permit COAH to review, upon the application of a municipality and a developer, and approve reduced affordable housing set-asides or increased densities to ensure the economic feasibility of an inclusionary development.

The amendments clarify that no consideration will be given to any regional contribution agreement of which COAH did not complete its review, and approve, prior to the effective date of the bill.

The amendments authorize the Department of Community Affairs to offset its administrative costs to administer the programs under the “Fair Housing Act,” from the fund created by the bill, up to a maximum of 7.5 percent annually.

The amendments create a new methodology for planning to meet fair share obligations for municipalities under the jurisdiction of specified regional planning entities or districts, and allow such regional entities to allocate affordable housing units based on regional considerations.

The amendments specify that the entirety of all continuing care facilities within a continuing care retirement community which is subject to the "Continuing Care Retirement Community Regulation and Financial Disclosure Act," P.L.1986, c.103 (C.52:27D-330 et seq.) are to be treated as non-residential construction for the purposes of the Statewide non-residential development fee.

The amendments also exempt non-residential construction from a relocation of, or an on-site improvement to, a nonprofit hospital or a nursing home.

The amendments also make several technical corrections to language in the bill.

This list can be found online at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A0500/500_S2.HTM