Judges block new affordable housing rules in N.J.

A New Jersey appeals court panel is blocking the implementation of new affordable housing guidelines.

After Gov. Chris Christie transferred the functions of the Council on Affordable Housing to the Department of Community Affairs last month, the DCA wrote some interim procedures for towns to follow.

The Fair Share Housing Center, however, claimed the public should have been involved in the process.

“We’d like to see a process that is a fair one,” said Kevin Walsh, associate director of the advocacy group. “That it isn’t slanted toward allowing wealthy towns to keep out working folks, and that provides New Jersey’s hard-working families with the opportunity to live in communities throughout the state.”

The court will hear arguments in February on the group’s effort to challenge the Christie administration’s affordable housing reorganization.

The appeals judges say, for now, New Jersey must follow previous housing rules.