As of today, 431 towns have adopted resolutions to participate in the state\u2019s affordable housing planning process, following a January 31 deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final tally represents approximately a 25% increase in municipalities participating in the process compared to the last round of affordable housing obligations in 2015 \u2014 validating the intent of new legislation signed last year to make the process clearer, reduce litigation costs, and encourage more municipalities to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In October, the NJ Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) released calculations <\/a>on the number of affordable homes each municipality is required to allow over the next decade. Municipalities had until January 31 to accept DCA\u2019s calculations or to challenge them by providing their own calculation consistent with NJ law, through the state\u2019s new Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most towns accepted DCA’s calculations. Now, any interested party has one month to file a challenge to municipal calculations. If no challenge occurs, then a municipality can go ahead with the number that it filed. For challenges, a decision must be issued by the Program no later than March 31. Towns will then have the number of affordable homes they need to plan for for the next decade. Municipal Housing Elements and Fair Share Plans, including proposed drafts of zoning and other ordinances and resolutions, are required to be adopted by participating municipalities by June 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s encouraging that the vast majority of municipalities, many of whom supported the new law\u2019s passage, are moving forward with creating homes under the new law,\u201d said Adam Gordon, executive director of Fair Share Housing Center<\/strong>. \u201cIn the midst of a deep housing crisis, New Jersey\u2019s new affordable housing law creates a win-win situation by giving municipal leaders tools to plan in the best way for their communities. It\u2019s a chance to help hard-working families live closer to jobs and schools, while prioritizing equitable redevelopment to foster resilient communities for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In New Jersey, the constitutional obligation for each municipality to allow its fair share of affordable homes, known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine<\/a>, is recalculated every 10 years in cycles known as Rounds. Each municipality\u2019s obligations are calculated by looking at factors in various regions of the state \u2014 such as job growth, existing affordability, and the growth of low- and moderate-income households \u2014 which determines an individualized requirement for affordable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n