Fair housing has taken national stage in recent weeks—a Supreme Court ruling and a Department of Housing and Urban Development rule now define fair housing. The New Jersey Supreme Court has also had its say on the subject, and cities are catching up.
"When it comes to the question of towns building their 'fair share' of affordable housing, the New Jersey Supreme Court could not have been clearer than my son is when arguing for fair cookie-distribution," writes Serena Rice in an op-ed for The Star-Ledger. "In the most recent Mount Laurel decision, the court restated in the strongest terms that New Jersey has a clear commitment to affordable housing, and that promise needs to be fulfilled now." The ruling earlier this year reinforced the so-called "Mount Laurel doctrine," which states that munipalities are obligated to provide a fair share of affordable housing.
Controversy over how some states calculate their municipal obligations to develop affordable housing preceded the Supreme Court decision. Rice pins the blame for the practice of undercounting municipal obligations on Robert Burchell, co-director of the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University. In a separate article, Colleen O'Dea reports on Burchell's role in the controversy leading up to the decision as well as his ongoing roll as a contractor in cities working to meet the guidelines produced by the Supreme Court ruling.
The ruling became effective last month, allowing a 30-day period for municipalities to seek approval for housing plans from the court. In the op-ed, Rice expresses concern that cities will continue to undercount and resist the mandate to provide their fair share of affordable housing.
FULL STORY: N.J. towns must do more to comply with affordable housing requirements
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.