Wayne passes resolution to oppose new NJ affordable housing law
WAYNE – The Township Council has lodged token opposition against a new law that advocates say will create more opportunities for affordable housing in a state where there remains an acute need.
The legislation overhauls the previous system for municipalities to satisfy their quotas by formally abolishing the long-defunct state Council on Affordable Housing and separating the process from the trial courts.
But local officials last week passed a resolution to object to the landmark bill, saying it would burden towns, including Wayne, by allowing for billions of dollars in fresh construction projects that would choke local roads and crowd public schools.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Councilmen Michael Fattal and Richard Jasterzbski, called for Gov. Phil Murphy to veto the 75-page bill.
By the time the resolution came to a vote Wednesday night, he had signed it.
Councilwoman Francine Ritter, the only council Democrat, criticized the timing of the resolution, calling it “meaningless.” She abstained from voting on the measure and said the action amounted to picking a play fight. “This is too little, too late,” she said. “The horse is out of the barn.”
Ritter also questioned whether her Republican colleagues lobbied state legislators for help before the bill was signed.
Council President Jason DeStefano said that even the lawmakers had no choice but to accept the legislation.
“It’s forced down their throats just like it’s forced down taxpayers’ throats,” DeStefano said. “To me, this is showing where we stand as a governing body. Yes, it’s symbolic – but a lot of the things we do when we show support or oppose something, down at the Statehouse, that’s all it is.”
An initial $16 million was appropriated for the state Department of Community Affairs to meet requirements under the bill.
Its main duty is to calculate and publish municipalities’ current and prospective housing needs by using a formula based on a March 2018 court decision.
The bill requires municipalities to adopt their housing obligations by resolution and to establish fair share plans by July 2025 to ensure immunity from builder’s remedies.
A statement released by Murphy’s office said the updated procedure is supposed to “streamline compliance” with the law.
The council has approved settlements with builders for five housing projects since December 2019. When combined, those residential developments are expected to bring 1,369 units.
Officials are still tied up in court over the future of the former Toys R Us headquarters on Geoffrey Way and that of a second office building on Valley Road.