By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
EAST WINDSOR “Outrageous,” “anti-Democratic” and a “fraud.”
Those are a few of the choice adjectives Mayor Janice Mironov used in a letter this week to Gov. Jon Corzine to describe a bill approved by the state Legislature known as the “age-restricted housing conversion bill.”
In the letter sent Wednesday on behalf of the Township Council, Mayor Mironov asked the governor to veto the legislation, which would make it easier for developers to seek removal of age restrictions on housing projects.
”The passage of Senate Bill S-2577/Assembly Bill A-3772 is contrary to the public interest and constitutes one of the most stunning, unprecedented and outrageous actions taken by state legislative officials,” Mayor Mironov wrote. “And on top of it all, the bill was posted last minute in both legislative bodies for ‘emergency vote,’ thereby circumventing the ability of the public and local officials to fully discuss and voice comments on the proposals.”
Mayor Mironov writes that the bill provides developers “as of right” applications to local planning boards to “convert an approved age-restricted development into a market rate housing project as long as it incorporates an (undefined) affordable housing component.”
She said Thursday afternoon that the legislation, if approved, could make about 400 planned housing units in the township subject to such a change.
”In a couple cases, we even changed the zoning to provide for age-restricted housing in accord with concepts and request of developer and community input,” she said.
She wrote to the governor: “Since age-restricted housing does not allow for school children, this bill imposes a direct increased property tax burden on local residents, by generating unplanned student costs and overcrowding school facilities, as well as increased negative impacts on our sewer/water system and road infrastructure, and an increased need for police, public works employees, as well as burdening other municipal services.”
Mayor Mironov wrote that the bill would give communities 60 days after an application for a requested change is deemed complete to make a decision and if the town denies the application, the developer is empowered to file a court action under a summary proceeding.
”The bill is anti-democratic, constituting a fraud on local citizens, and making a travesty of the long-developed well defined legal protections and procedures provided for residents under state and local laws and set forth in the Municipal Land Use Law,” she wrote.
Mayor Mironov is not alone in her criticism. According to published reports, the New Jersey League of Municipalities also is opposed to the bill. Meanwhile, proponents apparently believe it would help create jobs by giving developers more flexibility, especially with stalled projects.
Robert Corrales, a spokesman for the governor, said late Thursday afternoon that the bill is under review and he could not offer a timetable for a decision.

