WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 10, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Assembly Republican Whip Scott Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Morris, issued the following statement regarding today’s state Supreme Court 5-2 ruling that Gov. Chris Christie is not permitted to scrap the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), a state agency charged with overseeing the building of affordable-housing units for New Jersey’s residents:
Scott Rumana
“The current system under which COAH operates has always been a detriment to municipalities since it was established. Today’s decision is deeply disappointing and delays the necessary reorganization needed to address the Supreme Court’s affordable housing mandate. My position remains unchanged that COAH needs to be abolished. It is an outdated and terrible public policy that has adversely impacted property taxpayers and towns.
“Governor Christie was on the right path to correct a flawed program that began with the original Mt. Laurel decision. We are a state that contends with high property taxes, tremendous traffic congestion and dwindling open space. However, through a series of court decisions supporting unworkable COAH mandates, each of these areas have been negatively impacted.
“My colleagues in the Legislature also understand that policies such as ‘bonus density’ requirements in housing developments are in conflict with the goal of controlling property taxes and preserving open space. I look forward to working with them towards a responsible resolution to this issue. COAH has far out-lived its usefulness and needs to be overhauled and replaced.”
