Green Jersey

Environmentalists: DCA reports stink

Some of the state’s environmentalists are fuming over recent draft reports by a DCA subcommittee that suggest the state ease its environmental rules to aid development (specifically, affordable housing development). Developers were involved in writing these reports, which were apparently discussed in meetings not open to environmentalists or the public.

In a statement, the Sierra Club called the reports a “Builders’ Wish List” and said their recommendations “would undermine thirty years of environmental progress, bringing back many of the harmful proposals that the people of New Jersey have fought to stop over the last decades and abolishing regulations that protect our air, water, soil and public health.”

In an Associated Press story, Gov. Corzine’s administration reminded everyone the reports are drafts “and said it is premature to speculate on what the final versions would say.” The AP added:

Jim Gardner, a spokesman for Gov. Corzine, noted the governor’s environmental record and said Corzine is committed to building environmentally responsible, affordable housing wherever possible.

We may be headed to a showdown between the DCA and DEP, whose commissioner, Lisa Jackson, is reportedly against changing the rules as the reports recommend.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts yesterday introduced a reform bill that would ban rich towns from paying their way out of affordable housing obligations. From the Star-Ledger’s story on Roberts’ plan:

Roberts said that while he doesn’t want to “undo” environmental rules, “we need to go into these regulations with eyes open and realize that decisions made by a variety of different state departments affect whether or not we can build affordable housing.”