Corzine to sign away RCAs The Courier,July 17 Posted:07/18/08
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The creation of affordable housing has been shrouded in debate where location, funding and open space are involved.
Many New Jersey municipalities have used Regional Contribution Agreements (RCAs) as a tool when seeking compliance with the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).
RCAs allowed a town to send up to 50 percent of its affordable housing obligation to a neighboring community.
On Thursday, July 17, Gov. Jon Corzine will formally alter the COAH process when he signs Bill A500 into law.
The legislation was recently passed in both the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate.
Notably, the bill abolishes the use of RCAs. This aspect of the legislation has sparked significant controversy, particularly in Middletown Township.
On more than one occasion, Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger has said the elimination of RCAs would raise property taxes, put more children in the school system and, ultimately, affect the quality of life in Middletown forever.
The law will also create a 2.5-percent development fee and require a municipality to provide 13 percent of its affordable housing to those "truly poor."
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden; Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer; Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union; and Sen. Dana Redd, D-Camden, are also expected to attend the ceremony.
The bill signing will take place in Mount Laurel, where the fight for affordable housing began back in 1971.
The law will be in effect immediately upon the governor's signing.
