Senate President Nick Scutari and Senator Paul Sarlo, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, issued a statement on Friday in support of the Sherrill administration’s announced delay in the implementation of the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) regulations adopted by the Murphy administration.
Both were sponsors of a bipartisan resolution pending in the Legislature that would invalidate the rules on the grounds that they are inconsistent with legislative intent.
The REAL rules are also opposed by more than 130 mayors, multiple municipal and county associations, and the New Jersey Business Coalition.
“We welcome the Sherrill Administration’s delay in the implementation of these sweeping regulations in order to study possible revisions so that we prevent the serious consequences they would have imposed on communities throughout the state," the senators said.
“As previously written, the regulations went beyond legislative intent, would have increased the cost of housing, created barriers for homeowners, hindered redevelopment and stifled economic growth. Residents looking to renovate their properties would have faced costly requirements, including additional permits and expensive engineering work. For many families and businesses, improvement projects could have become unmanageable and financially out of reach. That can now be prevented.
“We have the opportunity to pursue our shared priorities of eliminating unreasonable regulations and making New Jersey more affordable. We can find ways to address environmental challenges and protect our residents without imposing burdensome requirements on the people who live and work in our communities.”
