New Jersey Law Clarifies Local Housing Needs

A new approach to housing in New Jersey will give each municipality a clear standard for how many affordable housing units they need to build, reports Daniel C. Vock in Route Fifty.

The new law “will allow local governments to develop their own housing plans, with incentives to build places to live for older people and for people with disabilities. It would also encourage development near rail stations, particularly those close to New York.” If cities fail to produce adequate plans, residents or developers can sue to move forward with their own proposals — echoes of California’s ‘builder’s remedy.’

Governor Phil Murphy, who signed the law this week, said “This legislation will enable us to build new, affordable housing, where it is needed, with far fewer hurdles.”