Cranbury hit hard by new COAH rules

[news]

Cranbury hit hard by new COAH rules

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008 10:30 AM EDT

CRANBURY — Changes in the state’s affordable housing rules could result in planned warehouse construction generating more housing than originally expected when Cranbury created its warehouse zone more than 20 years ago.

The warehouse district was created to generate nonresidential revenue and allow for preservation of property on the west side of the township.

But local officials say the new regulations will result in a population increase of more than 50 percent, which will have an impact on both the school and municipal budgets.

Township officials and warehouse builders say the new regulations are onerous and are based on incorrect assumptions that call for more housing to be built than is needed in the township, though state officials say the figures are based on surveys of warehouses in New Jersey.

Cranbury is considering litigation that would challenge the new rules. In the meantime, the Township Committee has drafted a resolution objecting to them that will be sent to the state Council on Affordable Housing.

The Township Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Cranbury School, 23 N. Main St., to discuss the new rules and the resolution.

COAH proposed the new regulations in December, nearly a year after a state appellate panel invalidated a previous set of third-round rules. The court said the rules, which allowed municipalities to determine their own housing obligation and allowed half their units to be age-restricted, were insufficient. The court also said the original third-round rules underestimated the number of units needed.
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http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/03/14/cranbury_press/news/doc47da8ac94f9c8571011517.prt