By Summer 2025, NJ towns will be constitutionally mandated to begin identifying how they will meet their “fair share” of affordable housing obligations.
How many affordable homes will New Jersey towns need to plan for, zone for, build, change, or fix up?
NJ Supreme Court getting tougher. New Jersey’s 564 municipalities forced to change their zoning laws so they don’t exclude affordable housing.
No more room to build affordable housing in Ventnor, Margate, Longport or Brigantine? Think again.
Gov. Phil Murphy will encourage you to build UP. This could benefit a property like Ventura’s in Margate.
In another tactic to address housing shortages, NJ Gov Murphy supporting homeowners in the building or redeveloping of ADU, accessory dwelling units.
ADU’s can be basement apartment, a small house in the backyard or an apartment over the garage.
Back in February 2022, the Margate Planning Board didn’t take these issues seriously.
Listen to Tom Collins, Rich Patterson and the Margate Planning Board:
NJ DCA (Department of Community Affairs) will soon share important details.
How much do towns need to set aside for affordable housing? How will that money be used?
Important dates.
- Dec. 1, 2024: DCA will publish town obligation numbers.
- Jan. 31, 2025: Towns adopt binding resolution to be protected from exclusionary zoning litigation.
- June 30, 2025: Towns establish housing element and fair share plans to meet obligations.
- March 15, 2026: Towns must adopt changes to municipal ordinances.
Critics fear that demand for housing will outpace supply especially with New Jersey operating as a ‘sanctuary state’. New Jersey still taking in unvetted migrants that arrive by bus and air.
Jersey shore towns with poorly regulated short-term rentals amplify shortage of residential housing.
Some short-term rentals (STR’s) lack proper commercial insurance. Some STR’s may have borrowed / financed their STR investment by submitting inaccurate loan applications.
Beware if your neighbor is running a short-term rental party house.
Municipalities face possible litigation. Brigantine and Ventnor accused of non-compliance with local zoning law. These shore towns permit commercial businesses (short term rentals) to operate within residential zones.
Some Downbeach officials support ‘spot zoning’ tactics to skirt local zoning law.
Critics say STR’s artificially inflate home values, shutter schools and small business.
STR’s ultimately destroy family-oriented communities.
If a town doesn’t have a proper housing plan, they could be sued. Builders could presumably decide for themselves where to build ‘affordable’ homes.
Longport could have put up a nice multi story complex that would help the low income people in the town on those two free lots instead of a park . And there’s plenty of parking on the beach block streets.
There’s no room for poor people in Longport. There isn’t even room for the middle class that have lived there for 50 years.
Let’s embrace capitalism and change some of the restrictive zoning laws. One example is allowing duplex housing where a single family house once was.
If people are concerned about “building up”, just look around. Most every new construction is 4 stories (ground + 3 levels) for a single family house that sits empty for 9 months a year.
If we change the zoning laws to make reasonable changes, the free market will determine who builds n who buys. And that should be good for the community at large – businesses n residents.