the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ — Just when you thought living in the Garden State couldn’t get any more expensive, Governor Phil Murphy’s administration is proving you wrong.
According to NJBIA Chief Deputy Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor, the Murphy-run Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is about to drop another “affordability shoe” on residents and businesses alike with its updated Resilient Environments and Landscapes rules. And don’t worry—these new regulations are just as overreaching and costly as you’d expect.
🌊 Flood Zones Everywhere – Even Where It’s Never Flooded!
Under the soon-to-be-finalized PACT rules, New Jersey’s flood zones will dramatically expand, meaning that:
✅ Homeowners in areas that have never flooded before (and likely never will) will now be forced to buy flood insurance.
✅ Housing costs in coastal and river communities will skyrocket.
✅ Doing business in these regions? Prepare for higher costs, more red tape, and fewer development opportunities.
📜 Deed Notices & Urban Development? Forget It.
If you need any permit from the DEP, brace yourself for an added layer of bureaucracy: a deed notice on your property. That’s right, your home or business could carry a permanent regulatory scarlet letter.
As for urban development? These rules practically guarantee stagnation. Forget revitalizing New Jersey cities—the Murphy administration has made sure the “Resilient” part of these rules only applies to state regulations, not communities trying to survive economically.
🧪 Questionable Science, Predictable Pain
The DEP even decided to graciously lower its sea level rise projections—from 5 feet to 4 feet by 2100. But according to Cantor, even this “revision” is still not based on credible science.
Does shaving off one foot really make a difference? Nope. It’s still a cost-prohibitive disaster for coastal towns, river communities, and property owners who are already drowning in taxes and fees.
💸 Another Gut Punch to Affordability
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a “rule change.” It’s another economic disservice to a state already plagued by:
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Highest property taxes in the nation
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Outrageous housing costs
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Businesses fleeing for friendlier states
As Cantor bluntly put it: “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
⏳ Is There Hope?
With the August 5 deadline looming, there’s still a sliver of time for the DEP to make meaningful changes—but don’t hold your breath. The hope now? That the next Governor of New Jersey will actually take a pragmatic, responsible approach to development and economic growth instead of burdening residents with endless regulations.
So, what’s the takeaway?
Under Murphy’s DEP, expect higher costs, more bureaucracy, and even fewer affordable places to live and work. Because in New Jersey, resilience apparently means surviving the government’s own policies.
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On the bright side this just handed the election to Jack!
Why are we developing in known flood prone areas to begin with? Could it be for the almighty dollar? Let’s use some common sense for a change. Don’t develop in those areas. In addition, the more we pave over everything, the more flooding will occur because there’s not enough ground to absorb the water.
Pfffft. you said common sense