NJBIA Chief Deputy Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor issued the following statement regarding an updated briefing on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Environments and Landscapes rules, made available to certain groups today.
“Despite our repeated warnings for over a year, the next affordability shoe in New Jersey is about to be dropped by the state Department of Environmental Protection under Governor Murphy.
“While the DEP has presented changes to its proposed PACT rules, these alterations do not go nearly far enough with the August 5 deadline to finalize the regulations approaching.
“The rules will still greatly expand New Jersey’s flood zones, requiring homeowners in certain areas that have never flooded before or may never flood to purchase flood insurance.
“They will greatly increase the costs of housing in coastal and river communities, as well as the cost of doing business.
“They will still require a deed notice for certain properties if they need any permit from DEP.
“And they will hurt urban development in New Jersey overall.
“Even worse, the DEP’s revised sea level rise projections of 4 feet, instead of 5 feet, by the year 2100, are still not based on credible science.
“That 1-foot decline may not make a difference to some, but it will be cost-prohibitive to many and impossible to overcome for others. Put simply, it will be devastating to many of our coastal and river communities.
“Sadly, the impacts of these major rule changes will be a surprise to those in impacted areas, despite our efforts to publicize them. The DEP is simply doing a great economic disservice to the state that will greatly add to our lack of affordability in New Jersey.
“The DEP still has time to make more impactful changes to this rule before August 5. If not, it is our hope the next Governor will take a more pragmatic and responsible approach to development and economic growth in New Jersey and revisit these regulations.
“Until then, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
