League seeks to overturn affordable housing rules

[flashl]

Lawyer for municipalities decries plan as burden on property-tax payers

The N.J. State League of Municipalities asked a state appeals court yesterday to overturn new affordable housing regulations enacted June 2 by the Council on Affordable Housing, saying they are a potential burden to property-tax payers.

Edward Buzak, a lawyer for the league, said municipal officials want "to start with a clean slate" and see the housing regulations re vised. He said the regulations adopted by COAH are "fatally flawed" and should be thrown out.

"Affordable housing can be provided in a manner consistent with sound planning strategies, the State Plan and other state planning initiatives," Buzak said. "COAH's regulations, if imple mented, will drive up the costs of compliance and those additional costs will ultimately be borne by taxpayers."

Buzak said the flaws in the regulations include confusion over whether towns could be forced to pay for affordable housing, a possibility local officials worry could lead to property tax hikes. The chal lenge also contends the state has increased to 116,000 from 57,000 the number of affordable units it wants towns to provide. It says the esti mate is unjustified and based on an inaccurate analysis of vacant land.

The Star Ledger

[tech3149]

1. Having lived in NJ for 15 yrs, this doesn't surprise me

Those with money, and there are many, don't want to have those people who work for them living down the street. This is not a healthy thing for communities and instigates a division between people. No good will come of this. Integrate communities in every way possible and sooner or later we'll understand that we are all connected.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. The lack of affordable housing is a burden ....

to those who would kiss the ground and praise the lord that they were given the opportunity to own a home.