RUMANA AND RUSSO SAY COAH REGULATIONS NEED AN OVERHAUL, NOT JUST A DELAY

Reacting to a proposal by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts to delay implementation of the state’s new affordable housing regulations, Assemblymen Scott Rumana and David Russo today said the state needs to reconsider its entire approach to the affordable housing issue and should spend the next year working toward that goal.

“To allow these regulations to take effect January 1st would be a disaster, so to the extent that this proposal will put that deadline off, the Speaker is moving in the right direction,” said Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex. “We should be aware that a delay alone will not solve this problem unless it is accompanied by an effort to completely reform the state’s approach to the affordable housing issue.”

The new Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) regulations require towns to submit affordable housing plans by the end of this year. On Monday, Speaker Roberts asked that COAH delay that deadline by up to 90 days.

Rumana and Russo said that there are numerous problems with the new affordable housing plan including the need for the elimination of builder’s remedy, the lack of any mechanism for built-out communities to challenge their fair share obligations, questions about the methodology of determining each town’s obligation, concerns about a 2.5 percent fee on new commercial development and a lack of adequate funding to support these new housing requirements.

“As currently structured this housing mandate will consume precious open space, cost taxpayers more money, and discourage economic development,” said Russo R-Bergen, Passaic and Essex. “If there is to be a delay in the implementation of this program, it should be an extended delay that allows us to come up with a better approach to addressing this issue.”