Question: Who exactly are Fair Share Housing and the Trenton legislators fighting for, when they insist we “need more affordable housing,”? yet they declined Montvale’s plan with 100% affordables to meet the obligation.”
the staff of the Ridgewood nloh
Montvale NJ, The debate over affordable housing in New Jersey has hit a boiling point. Following a recent Supreme Court setback regarding the state’s long-standing development mandates, Bergen County towns are at a crossroads: continue a costly legal fight or embrace new development requirements.
The Latest Ruling: What You Need to Know
On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito denied an emergency injunction that sought to overturn New Jersey’s affordable housing mandates. The ruling effectively upholds the historic Mount Laurel Doctrine, which dictates that every community in New Jersey must provide its “fair share” of housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
The current focus is on the “fourth round” of obligations, which spans the years 2025–2035.
Suburban Towns vs. State Mandates
The pushback has been led by a coalition of municipal officials who argue that the mandates are fundamentally flawed.
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, a vocal leader in the opposition, took to social media to voice his frustrations. “Our goal was never to fight affordable housing,” Ghassali stated. “Our goal is to stand up against high-density development that enriches developers, inflates market-rate prices, and pushes even more families out of reach.”
Critics of the mandates argue that new construction, which often features high rents for one-bedroom apartments, fails to address true affordability.
The Cost of Litigation
While some towns are doubling down on their legal strategy, others are choosing a different path, citing the high cost of fighting the state.
Glen Rock Mayor Kristine Morieko defended her town’s decision to opt out of the lawsuit, noting that participating would have cost taxpayers an estimated $20,000 just to begin. “Every one of us wants to protect our town,” Morieko said. “But protecting Glen Rock requires… a clear-eyed assessment of what will actually move the needle.”
Development Moves Forward
Despite the legal turmoil, progress—and controversy—continues at the local level. In Franklin Lakes, the Planning Board is set to discuss a proposal from SHG for a new development featuring 433 market-rate townhomes and 62 dedicated affordable housing units.
Meanwhile, advocates at the Fair Share Housing Center continue to urge municipalities to shift their focus away from litigation. “New Jersey’s law gives towns broad flexibility to create affordable housing in ways that support workers, small businesses, and local economies,” said representative Joshua Bauers.
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali , “Analysis shows that from 2020 to 2024, New Jersey added 60,161 new apartments. Only 6.5% of them, just 3,901 units, were affordable.
Nationally, the share of new construction that’s affordable is nearly double, at 12.6%. So NJ is at 6.5%, with the only State in the Union having this affordable housing policy.
Now take that in: over five years, New Jersey produced 56,260 luxury, full market‑rate units, and only 3,901 affordable units.
Question: Who exactly are Fair Share Housing and the Trenton legislators fighting for, when they insist we “need more affordable housing,”? yet they declined Montvale’s plan with 100% affordables to meet the obligation.”
The Future of NJ Housing
As the 2025–2035 cycle gets underway, Bergen County remains a focal point for the tension between suburban preservation and the state’s push for inclusive growth. Whether through continued legal challenges or proactive planning, one thing is clear: the landscape of New Jersey housing is changing.
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