Cities will be required to submit plans for creating sufficient affordable housing under a new state law.

A new approach to housing in New Jersey will give each municipality a clear standard for how many affordable housing units they need to build, reports Daniel C. Vock in Route Fifty.
The new law “will allow local governments to develop their own housing plans, with incentives to build places to live for older people and for people with disabilities. It would also encourage development near rail stations, particularly those close to New York.” If cities fail to produce adequate plans, residents or developers can sue to move forward with their own proposals — echoes of California’s ‘builder’s remedy.’
Governor Phil Murphy, who signed the law this week, said “This legislation will enable us to build new, affordable housing, where it is needed, with far fewer hurdles.”
FULL STORY: How New Jersey’s new affordable housing law aims to ease the housing crisis

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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