In March 2008 the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment transitioned from an organization led by staff to one led primarily by its board.

The Coalition’s impact on shaping New Jersey’s environmental, housing, and planning policies has been substantial. Since the Coalition was formed in 1997, dozens of state policies have been changed to reflect CAHE recommendations. The major policy changes the Coalition has successfully promoted include:

  • COAH’s new housing rules, announced December 17, 2007, incorporate large portions of CAHE’s original growth share proposal and are expected to increase annual affordable housing production by 60 percent. The Coalition’s legal challenge to an earlier version of the rules resulted in an Appellate court decision declaring those rules unconstitutional, forcing COAH to revise them. The revised rules include CAHE’s recommendation that construction of four market rate homes triggers an obligation to produce one affordable home.
  • The State Planning Commission (SPC) incorporated into its new Plan Endorsement guidelines the Coalition’s recommendation requiring municipalities address their affordable housing obligations in order to be endorsed by the SPC.
  • The Draft Highlands Regional Master Plan requires municipalities wishing to conform to the RMP to petition COAH for substantive certification, which will protect the environment by precluding builder’s remedy litigation.
  • The inclusion of affordable housing in transit villages. The Coalition first raised the issue with gubernatorial candidates Corzine and Forrester in 2005, and the policy was included in each candidate’s housing proposal. Governor Corzine then implemented the Coalition’s recommendations, beginning with transit villages in Elizabeth and Burlington City.
  • Ensuring passage of open space funding by working with environmentalists, planners and community development advocates. The Coalition’s focus on urban green space needs led to the November 6, 2007 ballot question receiving its highest level of support in urban areas.

For more information on the Coalition’s policy priorities please visit the following member websites:

For environmental policy:

ANJECAssociation of New Jersey Environmental Commissions
ANJEC and NJ's 350 municipal and county environmental commissions work every day to preserve important natural resources, protect air and water quality and promote reclamation and sustainable development.
www.anjec.org | (973) 539-7547 | E-mail

For affordable housing policy:

Housing and Community Development Network of New JerseyHousing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
The Housing and Community Development Network is a statewide nonprofit organization supporting New Jersey's community development sector and collaborating with more than 250 members to build strong communities while promoting social justice through housing and economic opportunity. The Network combines outstanding education and capacity-building programs with targeted public policy advocacy to provide CDCs with both the technical and financial support necessary to rejuvenate neighborhoods and improve quality of life.
www.hcdnnj.org | (609) 393-3752 | E-mail

For smart growth and planning policy:

PlanSmart NJPlanSmart NJ
Formerly the Regional Planning Partnership, PlanSmart NJ is the oldest non-profit research and advocacy organization in New Jersey promoting both sound economic development and conservation policies through better land use planning and regional cooperation.
www.plansmartnj.org | (609) 393-9434 | E-mail