SENATE, No. 1479

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 19, 1996

By Senator LESNIAK

An Act concerning affordable housing and amending P.L.1995, c.231.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1995, c.231 (C.52:27D-310.1) is amended to read as follows:

    1. When computing a municipal adjustment regarding available land resources as part of the determination of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing, the Council on Affordable Housing shall exclude from designating as vacant land any land listed on a master plan of a municipality as being dedicated, by easement or otherwise, for purposes of conservation, park lands or open space and which is owned, leased, licensed, or in any manner operated by a county, municipality or tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, or by more than one municipality by joint agreement pursuant to P.L.1964, c.185 (C.40:61-35.1 et seq.) for so long as the municipality or municipalities maintain such ownership, lease, license, or operational control of such land.

(cf: P.L.1995, c.231, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately .

STATEMENT

    This bill would provide that when computing a municipal adjustment regarding available land resources as part of the determination of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing, the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) must exclude from designating as vacant land any land that is dedicated for conservation, park lands or open space purposes and which is owned, leased, licensed or in any manner operated by a county, municipality, tax-exempt nonprofit organization or by more than one municipality by joint agreement pursuant to P.L.1964, c.185 (C.40:61-35.1 et seq.) for so long as ownership, lease, license or operational control of the land is maintained. Under current law, in order for such land to be excluded from designation as vacant land, the land must be owned by a county, municipality or tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

Authorizes adjustment to affordable housing fair share for recreational lands leased by municipality.