The Fight for Local Control: Why Pascack Valley Mayors Are Uniting Against NJ’s New Housing Bills
photo Park Ridge Mayor Misciagna
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Park Ridge NJ, New Jersey’s suburban landscape could be on the verge of a dramatic transformation. A coalition of local leaders, including Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna, and Westwood Mayor Ray Rendo, have joined forces with the Pascack Valley Mayors Association to issue a stark warning about three proposed state senate bills.
If passed, these bills could bypass local zoning boards entirely, potentially adding hundreds of thousands of high-density housing units across the state—all without meaningful local input or control.
Here is a breakdown of the legislation at the center of the debate and what it could mean for your community.
The Three Senate Bills Under Fire
The controversy centers on a trio of legislative proposals designed to accelerate housing development across New Jersey by overriding municipal zoning laws.
1. S-1766 — The “Stranded Asset Bill”
This bill targets vacant or underutilized commercial properties. It would allow developers to convert corporate office buildings, strip malls, and shopping centers into high-density, multifamily, mixed-use residential complexes, completely bypassing local municipal zoning regulations.
2. S-1786 — Statewide Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
S-1876 would grant property owners statewide the right to build a second residential unit (such as a backyard cottage or garage apartment) on their property. Critics argue this would effectively eliminate traditional single-family-only zoning districts.
3. S-1836 — Nonprofit & Religious Land Development
This legislation permits nonprofits and religious institutions to build high-density housing (ranging from 40 to 80 units per acre) on land they own. It also allows buildings to stand up to three stories higher than current local limits, regardless of municipal zoning rules.
Why Local Officials Are Opposing the Legislation
Local mayors emphasize that this is not a partisan issue. The 10 members of the Pascack Valley Mayors Association have coalesced in unanimous opposition, arguing that the bills represent an unwarranted state overreach that threatens the character of suburban towns.
“If passed, these bills would add at least one million unaffordable housing units statewide, and thousands within our own community, without meaningful local input or control, erasing the suburban character of our towns.” — Mayor Mike Ghassali
Municipal leaders point out that state intervention is entirely unnecessary to achieve these housing goals. Communities already possess the tools to implement these changes voluntarily through:
-
Local municipal ordinances tailored to the town’s infrastructure.
-
Applications to local zoning boards of adjustment for variance relief where justified.
Towns like Westwood have already submitted unanimous, non-partisan resolutions opposing the bills to the appropriate state committee chairs, while working closely with District 39 Senator Holly Schepisi to ensure local objections are heard in Trenton.
How Pascack Valley Residents Can Take Action
Local officials are encouraging residents who value local community planning to make their voices heard before these initiatives advance further.
If you want to share your perspective on these zoning changes, you can reach out directly to the bill sponsors and committee chairs:
-
Senator Troy Singleton (S-1766 Sponsor / Community and Urban Affairs Committee Chair)
-
Senator Brian P. Stack (Judiciary Committee Chair)
-
Senator Shirley K. Turner (Education Committee Chair)
-
Senator Benjie E. Wimberly
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate
#currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories
Tags: New Jersey Politics, Local Government, Zoning & Real Estate, Pascack Valley, Affordable Housing Legislation, Community Planning
Thats what you get when you vote DEM.
Would not be happening on Jack’s watch.