New Jersey Judge Upholds Affordable Housing Law

A New Jersey Superior Court judge has denied a request from 26 municipalities to pause the implementation of a new affordable housing law, which aims to increase the availability of low- and moderate-income housing across the state. Judge Robert Lougy found that the towns, led by Montvale, failed to demonstrate irreparable harm and that the benefits of the law outweighed their concerns. The law, which amends the 1985 Fair Housing Act, enforces the Mount Laurel Doctrine and requires municipalities to adopt affordable housing plans by January 31, 2025. Advocates for affordable housing welcomed the ruling, suggesting the lawsuit was an attempt by towns to evade their responsibilities. A hearing to dismiss the lawsuit entirely is scheduled for January 31, as the municipalities continue to express their opposition to the new mandates. The law's implementation comes amid a statewide shortage of approximately 150,000 affordable housing units, as identified by the Department of Community Affairs.