A developer is claiming that the New Jersey borough of Upper Saddle River violated its "civil rights" to provide housing in a New Jersey community.
"Mack-Cali Realty Corp., which is seeking to build luxury apartments on Lake Street [in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey], plans to ask a judge to consider — without a trial — claims that the borough violated the developer's civil rights," reports Marina Villeneuve.
According to a September complaint filed by the developer, by failing to act on a zoning request that would have allowed a mixed use development including 240 units, Upper Saddle River has violated the developer's civil rights.
Villeneuve shares some of the text in the complaint: "The refusal to allow for multifamily housing 'illegally excludes persons from residing in the borough,' says the complaint. The borough's actions also 'deprive Mack Cali of its right to make housing available,' it reads."
Villeneuve also reports that Mack-Cali is alleging two violations of the federal Fair Housing Act, according to documents filed with the court in July.
Affordable housing isn't the only hot planning topic in play with the court case. The site's current use as suburban office space is proving too hard to market, according to the complaint by Mack-Cali Realty. The change from office to residential use is therefore described as a sign of the times.
FULL STORY: Developer says Upper Saddle River broke federal law

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)