Overdevelopment Nightmare Coming to a Town Near You
the staff of the Ridgewood Blog Based on insights from Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo
Westwood NJ, During a recent Senior Breakfast in Westwood, NJ, one burning question dominated the room: What is the future of development in the Pascack Valley? Local residents are rightfully anxious. Right now, Trenton lawmakers are pushing a trio of aggressive housing and zoning bills—S-1766, S-1786, and S-1836—that threaten to strip local power away from elected Mayors, Councils, and zoning boards. Instead of letting communities decide how they grow, centralized state mandates are attempting to force urban-style densities onto fully developed, small-town New Jersey.
Here is why these “stranded assets” and overdevelopment bills are causing a massive alarm in Bergen County—and why local residents need to act before it’s too late.
The Illusion of Affordable Housing
Proponents of these state bills argue that hyper-dense apartment complexes are the only way to solve New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis. But does that economic logic actually hold up?
Look no further than New York City. Over the last forty years, NYC expanded its housing stock by roughly 25%. Yet, median rents and home prices remain among the highest in the nation. Forcing urban density onto small suburbs doesn’t guarantee affordability; it guarantees overdevelopment.
What makes this push particularly frustrating for Westwood taxpayers is the timing. Local communities have already spent extensive time and tax dollars updating Master Plan Housing Elements and zoning ordinances to comply with complex Round 4 Mount Laurel obligations. Now, Trenton seems completely untroubled by overriding that costly local progress.
4 Major Risks of Trenton’s Overdevelopment Bills
When legislators who don’t represent the Pascack Valley treat every open space like a nail to be hammered with densely packed apartments, they ignore vital environmental and infrastructural limits.
The consequences of bills like S-1766, S-1786, and S-1836 aren’t just theoretical—they will directly impact your backyard:
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Increased Flooding Risks: Paving over underutilized spaces sends more stormwater runoff into flood-prone neighborhoods. This raises flood elevations and pushes more suburban properties directly into designated flood hazard areas.
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Displacement and Insurance Crises: As flood risks rise, more homeowners will be forced to elevate their houses when making improvements. Those who cannot afford skyrocketing flood insurance or secure financing for massive home elevations face displacement.
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Wildlife Displacement: Rapid overdevelopment destroys natural habitats, pushing more New Jersey wildlife out of the woods and directly onto local roads and backyards.
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Loss of Local Control: Land-use decisions belong in the hands of the planning and zoning boards comprised of local resident appointees—not centralized state command and control.
“Master carpentry involves a deft hand, applied with an informed respect for the material being shaped… S-1766, S-1786 and S-1836 exhibit none of that. These bills represent not a labor of love, but of lobbying.” > — Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo
Conclusion: It’s Time for the Pascack Valley to Speak Up
State lawmakers are exhibiting about as much consideration for site-specific, local context as a bull in a china shop. If you value the suburban character, environmental safety, and financial stability of small-town Bergen County, Trenton needs to hear from you.
Contact your state representatives today regarding S-1766, S-1786, and S-1836 before local zoning control is gone for good.
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
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Tags:
Westwood NJBergen County NewsNew Jersey PoliticsZoning LawsPascack ValleyOverdevelopmentNJ Housing Market
This is what the majority of NJ voted for.