Fair housing has taken national stage in recent weeks—a Supreme Court ruling and a Department of Housing and Urban Development rule now define fair housing. The New Jersey Supreme Court has also had its say on the subject, and cities are catching up.
"When it comes to the question of towns building their 'fair share' of affordable housing, the New Jersey Supreme Court could not have been clearer than my son is when arguing for fair cookie-distribution," writes Serena Rice in an op-ed for The Star-Ledger. "In the most recent Mount Laurel decision, the court restated in the strongest terms that New Jersey has a clear commitment to affordable housing, and that promise needs to be fulfilled now." The ruling earlier this year reinforced the so-called "Mount Laurel doctrine," which states that munipalities are obligated to provide a fair share of affordable housing.
Controversy over how some states calculate their municipal obligations to develop affordable housing preceded the Supreme Court decision. Rice pins the blame for the practice of undercounting municipal obligations on Robert Burchell, co-director of the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University. In a separate article, Colleen O'Dea reports on Burchell's role in the controversy leading up to the decision as well as his ongoing roll as a contractor in cities working to meet the guidelines produced by the Supreme Court ruling.
The ruling became effective last month, allowing a 30-day period for municipalities to seek approval for housing plans from the court. In the op-ed, Rice expresses concern that cities will continue to undercount and resist the mandate to provide their fair share of affordable housing.
FULL STORY: N.J. towns must do more to comply with affordable housing requirements
Affordable Housing Cap-and-Trade Idea Resurfaces
In New Jersey, a cap-and-trade system existed for two decades and appeared to just perpetuate housing and social inequities. But now legislators and researchers are considering it again.
HUD Ordered to Release Grant Funds After Anti-DEI Clawback
A federal judge ruled in favor of fair housing groups after the Trump administration tried to rescind housing grants.
New Jersey Affordable Housing Law Turns 50
The Mount Laurel Doctrine tasks each city and town with creating enough affordable housing to meet their needs, but half a century after its passage, the law still faces opposition in some parts of the state.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service