52:9RR-1 Findings, declarations relative to housing affordability.

1. The Legislature finds and declares:

a. It has been more than twenty years since the Legislature enacted the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) which provides a voluntary system for municipalities to follow in zoning for affordable housing. Since the time of the enactment of this law, there has not been a unified review by the Legislature of the administration of the "Fair Housing Act," or a review of the issue of housing availability and affordability in general.

b. Soaring housing prices, escalating property taxes, increasing municipal fees, rising energy costs, and the costs to implement various State rules and regulations have put housing out of the reach of many citizens, particularly senior citizens on fixed incomes.

c. Available land to develop is rapidly dwindling, causing many experts to predict that New Jersey will be "built-out" by the end of the next decade. New Jersey currently is the most densely populated State in the nation.

d. Conflicting public policies on land use and planning have resulted in a lack of a coordinated approach by the State in addressing the issues that relate to the availability of decent, affordable housing for both home buyers and renters.

e. There is a need for continued, integrated oversight by the Legislature to review and shape solutions to address the State's residents' housing needs, and to address the Legislature's responsibility for the "Fair Housing Act" as an alternative to the court's remedies granted under the Mount Laurel doctrine.

L.2007,c.55,s.1.