ROBERTS OUTLINES NEXT STEPS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Speaker Says Towns Need Guarantee of Honest and Realistic Fair Share Obligations

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., today outlined a series of steps to further promote affordable housing opportunities across the state while protecting towns against unfair and unrealistic housing assignments.

"Now that New Jersey has grabbed the issue of affordable housing by the horns, we cannot let go," said Roberts (D-Camden). "State officials, local leaders, and the business and housing advocacy communities have begun a dialogue that is changing New Jersey's affordable housing landscape for the better. This broad partnership must continue."

Roberts is prime sponsor of legislation (A-500) that will overhaul the state's affordable housing laws for the first time in more than two decades, removing roadblocks that have allowed many communities to ignore their obligation to provide affordable housing. Governor Corzine is scheduled to sign the legislation tomorrow.

Roberts outlined three areas where he said significant advances in affordable housing policy can be made in the short-term:

• Use the State Plan as a Vehicle for Reform. Roberts noted that state Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria has initiated a proactive effort to use the State Plan to reconcile differences in DCA and DEP regulations in areas that relate to housing.  Roberts said Commissioner Doria has produced a timetable that could see final adoption of new regulations by the State Planning Commission in December.

Roberts said state and local officials need to work diligently to ensure fairness and adequacy in the rules governing the provision of affordable housing.

"This multi-pronged approach can efficiently and effectively complete the task of creating an affordable housing roadmap that is fair to working families and the communities where they live," said Roberts. "No one is going to be able to walk away from their responsibility to provide affordable housing, but we need to make sure that responsibility is determined honestly and accurately. The Legislature already has removed the most significant roadblocks standing in the way of affordable housing. Now, we need to ensure the entire path is level."

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