Moorestown Takes Steps to Protect Self in Affordable Housing Debate

Moorestown has taken steps to protect itself against any unnecessary litigation relating to affordable housing after the New Jersey State Supreme Court put the regulation of the issue in the hands of judges in March.

Moorestown Council approved a resolution that “declared the township’s intent to fully comply with its current and future” affordable housing regulations and to protect itself against future litigation on the issue. The resolution was approved with a 5-0 vote on June 23.

The State Supreme Court made its decision in March to hand regulation over to the judges after Gov. Chris Christie’s administration failed to set a new set of guidelines, according to nj.com.

The previous set of guidelines expired in 1999, and the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) failed to create new guidelines by November’s deadline, according to the report.

In April, the Christie Administration proposed an additional 110,000 units across the state, according to nj.com. It is up to the judges to assign a number of affordable housing units required for each municipality across the state.

Public housing advocates said the plan isn’t nearly enough. A vote on the plan is set for July 2 in Trenton, to be preceded by a public comment period.

“Municipalities that are in compliance must file litigation to protect themselves against lawsuits that force development that is not desired or needed,” Township Solicitor Anthony Drollas said.

That litigation needs to be filed by July 8.

“The Township has met its obligation for the first two COAH rounds,” Township Municipal Housing Liaison and Director of Community Development Tom Ford said.

According to Township Manager Scott Carew, no specific number has been proposed for Moorestown, and the township has staff and professionals working to figure out what a fair proposal would be for the township. Moorestown currently has 606 affordable housing units, Ford said.

For a breakdown of how Moorestown has dealt with the affordable housing mandates to this point, click here for the Low and Moderate Income Housing Committee’s 2008 report.