The Atlantic Builders Convention is the largest building industry trade show in the Northeast and draws participants from a six-state region, including residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, subcontractors and consulting professionals. Hundreds of exhibits showcase the latest products and services.  Attendees gain up-to-date information about the latest market trends, government policies and technical developments at educational seminars.

www.abconvention.com

NJBA has filed comments with COAH on the amendments it proposed in June to its 3rd round rules.  NJBA has generally recommended an increase in the minimum presumptive density and a decrease in the maximum set-aside that COAH is using for inclusionary development.  NJBA is also recommending that market rate units in inclusionary development not count toward creating a need for affordable housing under the growth share calculations.

Cover letter for report
Comments on COAH amendments

The exhibits are not included.

Link to the Proposed Rules:

On June 23rd, the Permit Extension Act was overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature by a vote of 70-9 in the Assembly, and 30-3 in the Senate.  It now awaits the Governor's signature.

Recent amendments to the Uniform Construction Code, now require a fire sprinkler head over exterior residential balconies, decks and ground floor patios where the building is of Type V (i.e. wood framing) construction and built to the International Building Code (IBC). Although all residential structures built to the IBC are already required to have interior fire sprinklers, the amendment adds exterior sprinklers. The requirement becomes mandatory for permit applications submitted after January 6, 2009. Structures built to the International Residential Code or balconies, decks and patios added to existing structures are exempt from the sprinkler protection requirements.

The Legislative Program and Policy Statement summarizes the positions of the New Jersey Builders Association on public policies relating to housing the state’s growing population.

Download the LPPS (433 KB):

The Ambassadors Annex is a bi-monthly publication provided by NJBA’s Member Mobilization program.  The intent of the publication is to provide members of the Association with updates on current NJBA and BPAC initiatives as well as advocacy-related information. 
We encourage you to distribute it to your co-workers, employees, friends and family.

The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council has released its November 2007 Final Draft Regional Master Plan (RMP) for public comment. The public comment period ends on Thursday, February 28, 2008.

Final Draft RMP: Warning: It may take a while to download this PDF. Size 22.48MB

Final Draft Land Use Capability Maps (5 Maps):

Technical Report Addenda:

Written comments on the Final Draft RMP are to be submitted to:

Attn: Final Draft RMP Comments
Highlands Council
100 North Road – Route 513
Chester, NJ 07930

You can also submit comments through the link below:
http://www.highlands.state.nj.us/njhighlands/master_plan.html

The Highlands Council has scheduled three public hearings on the Final Draft RMP.  The following are the dates and locations for these hearings:

NJBA cannot stress enough the importance of making contact with your legislators to explain firsthand the challenges facing the building industry.  Even if you don’t have an interest in politics, you certainly have an interest in your livelihood and you need to protect it.  If you are unsure of who your legislators are, please see http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp and click on the name of your municipality to find your district and legislator.

PHOTO BY MARY DANIELSEN, BUILDERS LEAGUE OF SOUTH JERSEY

NJBA 7/27/07 presentation to the Pinelands Commission recommending changes to the PDC program.

NJBA has filed comments on DEP's proposed rules governing the voluntary cleanup of brownfields pursuant to the Brownfield Remediation Act. If adopted as proposed, the rules will stymie voluntary cleanup and sharply curtail redevelopment throughout New Jersey thereby perpetuating pollution.

Innocent parties liable
The rules rely on voluntary remediations by parties not responsible for the contamination, but do not offer the protection of finality in the process or protection from future liability for innocent parties. 

Cleanup standards excessive
The proposed rules require remediators to meet far stricter standards than what the Legislature declared to be necessary to protect the pubic and the environment. 

Redevelopment economically infeasible
The costs of compliance with the proposed rules will make most redevelopment economically infeasible.

Public Notice Requirement for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
The Brownfield Act was amended in 2006 to require public notice for remediation of contaminated sites.  DEP has proposed rules for the required public notice.  The comment period closes October 5, 2007.  The proposal goes well beyond the requirements of the Act.  For example, the person responsible for the remediation would have to identify non-English speaking people who utilize the surrounding area and provide the notice in the non-English languages.  There is no official way to make such determinations. Mistakes have costly penalties.

Read comment letter of September 19, 2007

DEP's Legislative stakeholder process
DEP held stakeholder sessions to discuss possible changes to the site remediation program. Draft "white papers" were issued based on the discussions. NJBA participated as a stakeholder in the process and submitted comments on the "white papers".

Link to legislative stakeholder process and "white papers":

Link to NJBA's comments:

Link to DEP’s rule proposal webpage:

Read NJBA Comments on New Jersey Register of Historic Places rules (May 16, 2008 letter):

Read NJBA Comments on Proposed New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System rules (May 13, 2008 letter):

Read NJBA's Membergram on C-1 Proposal:

NJBA encourages DEP to further refine its proposed framework for Surface Water Quality Standards (C-1) criteria. Read NJBA's comment letter.

NJBA also discusses how the proposed C-1 criteria will affect redevelopment in New Jersey.

NJBA recommends that DEP withdraw the Water Quality Management Plan Rule Proposal and undertake rulemaking that will implement the State's "master plan" - the State Development and Redevelopment plan. Read NJBA's comment letter.

NJBA Comments on Ground Water Quality Standards rule proposal

The DEP issued the Ground Water Quality Standards (GWQS) rule proposal as a companion to the Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) rules proposal.  The GWQS relies extensively upon the WQMP proposal for its proposed amendments and new provisions.  NJBA emphasized that the existing anti-degradation policies and contemporary technology sufficiently protect ground water quality and designated uses. Read NJBA’s comment letter.

In response to a suit brought by NJBA, the Appellate Division of New Jersey’s courts has found that, like towns, state agencies have a constitutional obligation to take “affirmative steps to ensure adequate affordable housing” where they are responsible for planning and zoning.

Read NJBA Press Release

Read Court Decision

Read Original Announcement