9th District Bill Would Require Impact Studies as Part of So-Called “Affordable Housing” Law

June 10, 2024

Amato-Rumpf-Myhre Bill Requires Traffic, School, Storm Water & Carbon Impact Studies Before Building Starts.

Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre have introduced companion legislation, S-3271 and A-4410, to require traffic, school and storm water impact studies for municipalities in which newly-built affordable housing developments of 10 units or more are to be built.

The legislation also calls for a carbon impact study for a newly-built inclusionary development requiring the clearing of more than one acre of land which would be required to be designed, constructed, and certified to at least LEED silver standards, or equivalent green building system standards, if the development consists of 10 or more units or four or more floors.

The 9th District Delegation’s legislative proposal was introduced in response to the enactment of the so-called “Affordable Housing” law signed by Governor Murphy on March 20 of this year.

Amato, Rumpf and Myhre issued the following statement explaining their motivations for introducing the legislation:

“The so-called ‘Affordable Housing’ which is nothing other than government subsidized housing, was enacted without proper consideration given to the serious ramifications for the residents of impacted municipalities that will be felt on an everyday basis.  This includes traffic congestion, increased school enrollment as well as environmental concerns that will come into play as a consequence of the mandated building of affordable housing complexes.

“We represent an environmentally conscience constituency, comprised of residents living coastal and Pinelands communities who reject uncontrolled building mandates imposed on their towns.  Moreover, many of our constituents live in communities in which local school districts faced drastic cuts in State education aid.  Based on experience, we do not trust that the state’s school funding formula will be modified to compensate school districts where affordable housing drives up student enrollment.

“Since officials in Trenton did not see the need to think things through, our Delegation has introduced legislation requiring traffic, school, storm water and carbon impact studies for affordable housing developments.  This is a commonsense proposal that would address deficiencies in current law and protect the quality of life for residents who don’t want overdevelopment to disrupt their communities.

“While the enactment of the so-called ‘Affordable Housing’ law may have been politically expedient for certain interests, it is residents of impacted towns who will ultimately have to live with the consequences.   If Trenton truly wants to comprehensively address the state’s affordability crisis, then it should control spending and stop raising taxes, fees and tolls at every opportunity.

Upon introduction, S-3271 was referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee while A-4410 was referred to the Assembly Housing Committee.