TRENTON — Both houses of the Legislature today passed a controversial bill that overhauls the state’s affordable housing system, but it is likely to be vetoed by the governor. Gov. Chris Christie said through a spokesman today he would only sign the original version of the bill (S1), passed in June. Both the Assembly and Senate have changed that...
TRENTON — Both houses of the Legislature today passed a controversial bill that overhauls the state’s affordable housing system, but it is likely to be vetoed by the governor.
Gov. Chris Christie said through a spokesman today he would only sign the original version of the bill (S1), passed in June. Both the Assembly and Senate have changed that legislation, which abolishes the Council on Affordable Housing, among other things.
The bill would also require that towns with fewer than 20 percent of children eligible for free or reduced lunch ensure that one-tenth of their total housing stock be affordable for low-and moderate-income families. Towns where 20 to 50 percent of children are eligible would have to make 8 percent of their units affordable.
It includes a 1.5 percent fee for residential developments that do not include low-income housing.
Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), a primary sponsor of the bill, said the newest version eliminates the "top-down, bureaucratic, municipality-by-municipality, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, block-by-block, house-by-house, micromanagement experienced under COAH."
But opponents of the bill said it would actually increase the burden on municipalities.
"We are concerned that S-1, which passed the Senate today, may have negative consequences that actually make the affordable housing situation worse for municipalities," the League of Municiaplities said in a statement.
Under the new version of the bill, the number of affordable units required by municipalities doubles in the second 10-year housing cycle, according to William Dressel, executive director of the League of Municiaplities.
The vote fell mostly along partisan lines, with the Senate passing the bill 21-16, and the Assembly voting 45-32.
Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset) said he supported the original version of the bill, but urged the Senate to vote against it in its present form.
"I fear this amended version will make New Jersey a less affordable place to live," he said before the vote.
Kevin Walsh of the Fair Share Housing Center said it reduces the state’s affordable housing obligation from 116,000 units to 50,000. He said the latest version of the bill lets towns "off the hook" because it would dismiss lawsuits filed in the past year as long as the town comes up with an affordable housing plan under the new system.
"The bill has been amended to try to appease some of the towns," he said.
Ginger Gibson contributed to this report.
By Megan DeMarco and Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story said that Gov. Chris Chrisitie supported the changes. The governor has said he would only sign the original version of the bill, passed in June. The original bill has since been modified.