Affordable housing to be discussed Oct. 16

   EAST WINDSOR — State Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria Jr. will discuss the impact of new COAH regulations on economic growth at a breakfast forum Oct. 16 at the Americana Diner on Route 130.
   The Council on Affordable Housing this week adopted amendments to its revised third-round rules and methodology. The amendments, according to the state Department of Community Affairs, serve to protect environmentally sensitive lands, provide adjustments for municipalities wishing to use actual local data on available land for development, promote affordable housing in redevelopment and smart growth areas, allow replacement of buildings to be exempt from calculation of growth, and provide direction for municipalities to meet the Dec. 31 deadline. The rules will be effective on Oct. 20.
   COAH’s latest rules continue to use a growth- share approach which bases municipal affordable housing obligations on market-rate residential and nonresidential growth. The rules establish a need of 115,000 units of affordable housing through 2018, up from 52,000 in the previous rules.
   ”These amendments were a direct result of New Jersey residents taking part in the governmental process,” said Mr. Doria in a press release. “COAH appreciated their participation, listened to their concerns, acted upon them and has created greater flexibility in their implementation.”
   The local public policy forum, announced this week by Mayor Janice Mironov, is being co-hosted by the township Economic Development Committee and the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
   Registration and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast and program convene will start at 8 a.m. All area businesses and officials are encouraged to attend.
   The admission charge is $20, and advance registration is required. Register online at www.princetonchamber.org. For more information or to obtain a registration form, call the Chamber of Commerce at 924-1776.