DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
REGIONAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING

AGENDA

1. Realistic Opportunity? - The Distribution of Affordable Housing and Jobs in New Jersey
Tim Evans, Research Director, New Jersey Future, will present the findings of his agency's recent report on the mismatch between affordable housing and jobs in New Jersey. Currently, households in need of affordable housing are effectively restricted in their residential choices to a handful of municipalities, while new job opportunities are being created elsewhere. If the conditions that perpetuate the need for affordable housing are ever to be ameliorated, it is critical that lower-income households have a realistic opportunity to access growing communities with new jobs. The report recommends that the State adopt a "growth share approach", linking the creation of affordable housing to commercial and market-rate housing development.

2. New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH)'s proposed "growth share" methodology
Joyce Paul, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, will discuss COAH's proposal to overhaul the way the State determines local affordable housing obligations. COAH has proposed using a "growth share" methodology to determine affordable housing obligation that is consistent with sound land use planning and smart growth. The new methodology would enable towns to determine their affordable housing obligation based on actual growth over time, requiring one unit of affordable housing for every 10 market-rate units built or for every 30 new jobs created through non-residential development. The final version is expected to be adopted in January 2004, after a 60-day comment period which will begin in October.

3. DVRPC FY2005 Work Program
John Griffies, DVRPC Work Program Coordinator, will review the schedule and process for developing the FY2005 Work program. Each year DVRPC develops a work program of projects and initiatives to be undertaken. We are currently developing project ideas for FY2005, to begin July 1, 2004. Regional Housing Committee members will review and recommend project priorities to the DVRPC Board.

4. Member Updates
Members of the Regional Housing Committee are invited to update the committee on ongoing housing activities and initiatives within their individual County or agency.

5. Old Business

• DVRPC's "Live/Work" study - Mary Ng, Regional Planner, DVRPC
• DVRPC's "Reinvestment in Centers" study - Heather Kump, Economic Development Policy Planner, DVRPC
• Update on DVRPC's "Housing for an Aging Population" study - Mary Bell, Principal Regional Analyst, DVRPC

• Dates for future meetings
• Upcoming "Innovative Housing Institute" conference in Bethesda, Maryland