The League of Municipalities expresses its appreciation to Assembly Speaker Roberts and Assemblyman Jerry Green, who today wrote to the Executive Director of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and asked for the agency to allow towns to seek at least a 90-day extension from the current December 31 deadline.
We view a 90-day extension as a good beginning. But the League has called on the Governor to issue an Executive Order allowing for a 6-month (or 180-day) extension.
There are many good reasons to extend the deadline beyond 90-days. For instance, the League’s request is supported by environmental advocates, who express concerns that the deadline does not allow time for adequate planning and the conflict with the Water Quality Management Plans due by April 7, 2009.
Additionally, the League is one the appellants challenging the validity of the regulations adopted by the Council of Affordable Housing (COAH.) The League, supported by financial pledges of approximately 250 municipalities, is preparing to file its brief in early January.
It is our opinion that the COAH methodology will continue to have a negative impact on the State’s economy and will ultimately not serve the interest of affordable housing. Our goal is a methodology that offers a framework in which towns can work to achieve COAH compliance and provide for affordable housing.
We appreciate the Assembly Leaders, who have heard the requests of hundreds of municipalities, and have joined the growing consensus that the current December 31 deadline must be extended, and we look forward to working with the Leadership in the Assembly and Senate, and the Administration. Contact Bill Dressel, Executive Director at (609) 695-3481 ext. 122 or cell number (609) 915-9072 or bdressel@njslom.com
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