the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Montvale NJ, Township of West Caldwell in Essex County, joining our affordable housing coalition, Local Leaders For Responsible Planning, and bringing the number of towns to 32 in eight counties, representing over 400,000 residents.
Township of West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta Jr. and township committee members are taking a stand against high density housing and massive over development.
On December 20, 2024, Judge Robert Lougy heard oral arguments on the Local Leaders for Responsible Planning municipalities’ application for a stay of the Fourth Round affordable housing law.
“The 26 plaintiffs – and 31 municipalities that have adopted resolutions to join our effort – are challenging the Fourth-Round affordable housing mandates because we believe the state’s current approach is simply not working and is unconstitutional. The massive burdens placed on municipalities, combined with the use of outdated and illogical numerical calculations, are gravely impacting towns across our state,” said Mayor Mike Ghassali.
“We are hopeful that following oral argument, Judge Lougy will place the Fourth Round law on hold. Doing so will eliminate the pressures of an artificial January 31, 2025 deadline to submit to the Program while the Court considers substantial constitutional claims regarding its constitutionality,” explained Coalition Attorney Michael L. Collins.
The Local Leaders For Responsible Planning’s challenge in court is seeking to address the flaws in the affordable housing law, and work to give municipalities a true say in determining the affordable housing obligations for their own communities.
Response from the court is expected before the new year.
Current list of towns in the coalition with signed resolutions to join and bring fairness to the Affordable Housing process:
1. Allendale Borough (Bergen)
2. Cedar Grove (Essex)
3. Clark Township (Union)
4. Closter Borough (Bergen)
5. Denville Township (Morris)
6. East Hanover ( Morris)
7. Florham Park Borough (Morris)
8. Franklin Lakes Borough (Bergen)
9. Hillsdale Borough (Bergen)
10. Hanover Township (Morris)
11. Holmdel Township (Monmouth)
12. Little Falls (Passaic)
13. Mannington Township (Salem)
14. Millburn Township (Essex)
15. Mendham Borough (Morris)
16. Montville (Morris)
17. Montvale Borough (Bergen)
18. Norwood Borough (Bergen)
19. Old Tappan Borough (Bergen)
20. Oradell Borough (Bergen)
21. Parsippany- Troy Hill (Morris)
22. River Vale Township (Bergen)
23. Sandyston Township (Sussex)
24. Totowa Borough (Passaic)
25. Warren Township (Somerset)
26. Wall Township (Monmouth)
27. Washington Township (Bergen)
28. West Caldwell Township (Essex)
29. Westwood Borough (Bergen)
30. Woodland Park Borough (Passaic)
31. Wharton Borough (Morris)
32. Wyckoff Township (Bergen)
New Jersey State League of Municipalities
Where are Paramus and Ridgewood?
No chance for Ridgewood ,Paramus is a different story
Ridgewood is a welcoming community, didn’t you hear?
Being a Welcoming Community has nothing to do with having Affordable Housing.
“Affordable Housing” in NJ is a scam were forced development earns politicians generous political donations
Muni Law prof at Law School admitted affordable housing is by no means in NJ’s Constitution.
For reasons you can guess, though, he perfectly well likes the corresponding policy the NJ Supreme Court illegitimately rammed down our throats, lo those many years ago.
It’s written in the constitution of our hearts.
Ridgewood is the shining beacon of wokeness and DEI in Bergen County. It needs to be declared a sanctuary for illegals and should build shelters for them in addition to thousands of apartments for the needy. Let’s do this and lead by example. Also, don’t forget to fly rainbow flags everywhere year round like they do at that famous bar by the tracks right before the bank and Whole Foods. We are rich, stupid and love self inflicted pain supporting causes we don’t even understand.
Amen and Awoman.