WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 27, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Assembly Republican Whip Scott Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Morris, issued the statement below regarding today’s state Supreme Court 3-2 ruling upholding an appellate decision in 2010 that struck down the “growth share” affordable housing formula. The court concurred with the lower court finding that the growth share approach “permit(s) municipalities with substantial amounts of vacant developable land and access to job opportunities in nearby municipalities to adopt master plans and zoning ordinances that allow for little growth, and thereby a small fair share obligation.”
Scott Rumana
“The Supreme Court has once again issued an irrational ruling with respect to housing development throughout our state. I am disappointed by the court’s decision which will place municipalities in legal limbo.
“In the aftermath of the court’s initial Mt. Laurel ruling over 30 years ago, municipalities have suffered through massive over-development and related costs. I have spent the last 20 years representing citizens in various elected capacities with a great focus on fighting against the absurd Mt. Laurel doctrine.
“By ruling against the ‘growth share’ concept, the court has once again turned over the destinies of every municipality to the bureaucrats of the Council on Affordable Housing; exposing municipalities to evermore and massive high-density residential over-development.”
