Six Municipalities Receive COAH Certification
24 Towns Now Certified Under COAH’s Revised Third Round Rules


TRENTON - Six more municipalities today received substantive certification under the Council on Affordable Housing's (COAH) revised third round rules. The action came during today's COAH Board meeting. The municipalities are: Blairstown Township, Cape May Point Borough, Flemington Borough, Florence Township, Milford Borough, and Old Bridge Township.

"More and more municipalities are receiving their certification each month, as we have seen record participation during COAH's third round," said Department of Community Affairs Commissioner and COAH Board Chairman Joseph Doria. "Over 350 municipalities have signaled their intent to participate in the COAH process and in the coming months, many more will be receiving certification as municipalities continue to show a commitment to providing their fair share of affordable housing."

These six municipalities join Beverly City, Eastampton Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Frenchtown Borough, Harding Township, Hardyston Township, Lawrence Township (Mercer County), Maplewood Township, Millville City, North Hanover Township, Pennsauken Township, Pennsville Township, Pine Hill Township, Plainsboro Township, Rocky Hill Borough, Springfield Township, Upper Pittsgrove Township and West Amwell Township as the first 24 towns in the state to receive certification under the third round rules.

Under the plans certified for these 24 municipalities 4,340 newly constructed affordable units have already been completed, with another 1,311 proposed. Additionally, 286 units have already been rehabilitated, with another 563 proposed.

Substantive certification is COAH's determination that a municipal fair share plan presents a realistic opportunity for the production of affordable housing to address the town’s portion of the affordable housing need. The substantive certifications granted to these nine municipalities are valid until December 30, 2018 and provide protection from builder's remedy lawsuits.

COAH, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, facilitates the production of sound, affordable housing for low and moderate income households by providing the most effective process to municipalities, housing providers, nonprofit and for profit developers to address a constitutional obligation within the framework of sound, comprehensive planning.


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