August 26, 2009 - 9:31am
Press Release

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Addiego, Rudder call for special Assembly session on Eastampton COAH case

Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder today called for Speaker Joseph Roberts to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the impact of an Appellate Court ruling on affordable housing in Eastampton.

      “The court’s ruling ignored the fact that the township was meeting all of its COAH obligations, and forced the municipality to build even more units at great expense to local taxpayers,” said Assemblyman Rudder. “The legislature needs to come in determine how this happened, why it happened, and take steps to assure that it will not happen again.”

      Addiego and Rudder announced today that they are drafting legislation, which will be introduced at the next session of the Assembly, to prohibit the “inherently beneficial use” argument as a factor in a variance request for COAH certified towns.

      “The average New Jersey taxpayers could already be facing an increase of $900 or more per year as a result of COAH’s Third Round regulations, according to the Office of Legislative Serivces,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “How much more will this court case add to their tax bills? This is yet another step toward making it impossible for middle-class families to remain in the state.”  

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ROBBIE KENNEY can be reached via email at 8thleg@gmail.com.