The Assembly Democrats have proposed a 12 point plan to encourage more affordable housing in New Jersey.

As reported in the November 14 Asbury Park Press and Star Ledger, the plan is designed to encourage greater development of affordable housing in suburban communities and eliminate the use of “Regional Contribution Agreements” or RCAs -  which allow communities to pay to redirect affordable housing to other, usually poorer, municipalities.  Many communities utilize this program to satisfy up to half of their affordable housing obligations.  Incentives for such development would include increased school funding for communities that promote and develop new affordable housing.

The plan was presented by Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden), along with Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assemblyman Gerry Green (D.-Union).  In a press release, Roberts outlined the 12 elements of the plan, which is aimed at increasing production of affordable housing and easing the ability of eligible residents to secure an affordable unit in which to live:

• Abolish RCAs: End the reprehensible practice of allowing municipalities to duck their affordable housing responsibilities, but give urban communities new funding so they don’t have to rely on RCAs.
• 20-percent set aside for state projects: Establish a 20-percent affordable housing set aside for all state-assisted development projects – such Smart Growth Areas and Transit villages; state needs to lead by example.
• New Housing Trust Fund: Create a reconstituted state affordable housing umbrella fund with an expanded pool of revenue sources.
• Tax Credits: Make federal Low Income Tax Credits available to private developers; New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, and California already do this.
• Increasing Access: Expand middle-income eligibility for affordable housing units and promote production of housing units for families earning less than 30 percent of the state’s median income.
• Utilizing school funding: Use school funding formula to award towns that provide affordable housing to low- and moderate-income students.
• No eminent domain erosion: Prevent eminent domain from reducing existing pool of affordable housing units in New Jersey.
• Use it or lose it: Support DCA’s idea of preventing towns from stockpiling – and never using – local trust funds meant for construction of affordable housing.
• Reward balanced housing:  Mandate municipalities provide density bonuses to developers constructing inclusionary developments.
• Create fair-share bonus: Require the Council on Affordable Housing to account for existing affordable-housing units when allocating town’s fair share; state regulations need to take into accounts towns that are doing the right thing.
• Long-term planning:  Create a task force specifically assigned to mapping out a “comprehensive housing plan.”
• Greater transparency:  Do a better job of tracking progress on affordable housing through regular publication of statistical reports. 

For a more comprehensive discussion of the plan, please read the Assembly Majority Office’s memorandum. 

The Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee will hold a hearing on the plan on December 10.