Court Rules That Christie Administration Must Stop Approving Zoning That Excludes Families

by: Damika Webb at Fair Share Housing Center

Mon May 23, 2011 at 02:55:16 PM EDT

promoted by Rosi

The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court today invalidated a state agency decision that allowed municipalities to pass zoning ordinances excluding up to one-third of all families in the state. As a result of the decision, families of New Jersey's hard working waitresses, school bus drivers, and nursing home aides will have greater opportunities to live in municipalities that previously adopted policies that barred them from living in towns where they work.

The decision reverses a policy instituted by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) under the Corzine Administration and continued and defended in court by the Christie Administration. COAH approved the Blairstown Township's housing plan in 2009 despite the fact that Blairtown had no included opportunities for families working at entry-level jobs. The agency had previously required muncipalites to adopt zoning policies that included low-income families, but backed down from enforcing that requirement in response to pressure from wealthy municipalities.

Damika Webb at Fair Share Housing Center :: Court Rules That Christie Administration Must Stop Approving Zoning That Excludes Families

The Christie Adminstration, which expanded this policy, argued before the Appellate Division in March 2011 that muncipalities should be able to exclude working families from their towns. This position is in keeping with the governor's goal of equipping municaplities with the authority to exclude working families, people with special needs, and lower-income seniors from their towns.

It is widely known that Governor Christie's parents moved from Newark to Livingston to seek a better life for their children. He has said that he wouldn't have become Governor without having made that move. Yet, the Christie Administration to date has shut the door on other families looking for similar opportunities.

Today's decision is good for families. Parents should be able to live in towns where they work and send their kids to good schools.