Wins abound for our Municipal and Government Practice Area, with two separate cases regarding the New Jersey Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program. Both cases center on proposed amendments to the number of Affordable Housing Units required in specific municipalities as dictated by the New Jersey Fair Housing Act (FHA), established in part by the “Mount Laurel Doctrine” created in 1975.

In the first, Steve Goodell and John Gillespie argued successfully on behalf of Alexandria Township, who sought to reduce the number of required affordable housing units from 75 to 49. Citing multiple revisions through several rounds of the FHA, the judge ruled that the conclusion the Township reached through analysis was valid.

In the second case, Michael Herbert and Alena Hyatt defended the Township of Ewing against claims made by the New Jersey Builders Association. The Township sought to deviate from the perspective need of affordable housing units required based on the high percentage of government owned property within the municipality. Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy affirmed the decision originally made by retiring Judge Mary C. Jacobson allowing the reduction of affordable houses required from 319 to 231.

You can read the full opinion on the Alexandria case HERE, as well as the Ewing opinion HERE