Governor urged to push back affordable-housing deadline

[wcody]

Governor urged to push back affordable-housing deadline

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
BY TOM HESTER
Star-Ledger Staff

Two state senators, the lobby ing arm for local government, and a coalition of environmental groups have separately asked Gov. Jon Corzine to delay by at least six months the Dec. 31 deadline for towns to file their plans to provide affordable housing.

Sens. Raymond Lesniak (D- Union) and Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) wrote that current state Council on Affordable Housing regulations are actually hindering construction of affordable houses and apartments. They said a six-month delay would enable them to develop bipartisan legislation to develop a funding system to jump-start financing for affordable housing.

In a letter delivered to the governor yesterday, Lesniak and Bateman said they also are preparing a legal brief in support of a New Jersey State League of Municipalities lawsuit in state appeals court that calls for the COAH regulations developed over the past year to be tossed out as unconstitutional.

"The court's and COAH approach to affordable housing was a failure during robust economic times and a booming housing market," Lesniak and Bateman wrote. "Continuing along the same path during an economic recession will not only fail to produce affordable housing, it will also doom any chance of economic recovery in New Jersey."

Corzine wants to provide at least 100,000 new or refurbished affordable houses and apartments over the next 10 years.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), who co-sponsored legislation approved by Corzine in July to bolster the affordable housing effort, said he has been working with the governor, COAH and local officials "toward reforms that would responsibly address a number of the issues raised in the senators' letter."

William Dressel, director of the League of Municipalities, said the appeals court case, which involves 247 municipalities, may not be settled until late next year. Dressel welcomed Lesniak's and Bateman's support for the lawsuit, and, in a letter to the governor, outlined some of his reasons for extending the deadline, which he said the governor has the power to do. He said the preparation of a COAH petition often costs tens of thousands of dollars and requires multiple public meetings.

Kevin Walsh, counsel for the nonprofit, Cherry Hill-based Fair Share Housing Center, said Corzine does not have the power to delay the deadline. "It is totally unconstitutional for the governor to do that," he said.

The governor's office referred questions about the requests to the Department of Community Af fairs, where spokesman Chris Don nelly said DCA Commissioner Jo seph Doria has stressed that all parties "must work together in order to provide New Jersey residents with the affordable housing they need and deserve."

Jeff Tittel, director of the Sierra Club of New Jersey, said environmentalists want the filing deadline extended because they fear that towns will rush to file their plans without fully considering the long- range planning and environmental implications.

Tom Hester may be reached at thester@starledger.com or (609) 292-0557.

[wcody]

This is potentially some good news coming out of Trenton regarding COAH. There is activity in the state senate to revamp COAH. There are two potential bills proposed by Sean Kean and Kip Bateman regarding COAH. What surprised me about this article is that Raymond Lesniak is also supporting COAH reform. That is great news. This is legislative activity that should be followed carefully.

Win Cody

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