State Supreme Court Ruling a Victory for Sound Planning, Housing Affordability

September 26th, 2013 by Peter Kasabach

Source: Design for Health

The New Jersey Supreme Court decision today invalidating “growth share” rules adopted by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) in 2008 is not only a major victory for people who need affordable homes, it re-establishes and emphasizes the connections between the State Planning Act, the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, regional assessments, sound land use planning and the Council on Affordable Housing.

New Jersey Future, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, the American Planning Association (APA) and its APA New Jersey chapter filed a friend-of-the-court brief calling for the growth share rules to be invalidated. The coalition applauds the decision, noting it will increase the availability of affordable homes throughout the state.

The decision “recognizes the strong link between the provision of affordable homes and planning, particularly the State Development and Redevelopment Plan,” said Peter Kasabach, executive director of New Jersey Future. “We’re delighted that the court has chosen to recognize the obligation of all the state’s municipalities to offer residents reasonable access to homes they can afford. COAH’s 14-year-long failure to promulgate adequate rules has inhibited the state’s economic growth and undermined sound planning principles.”

New Jersey Future’s full media release may be found here.