Highland Park rent control board sends mixed recommendations on exemptions, CPI formula and vacancy rules to borough council

The Highland Park Rent Control Board met March 27 and agreed to draft a memo of recommended changes to the borough's rent-control ordinance addressing which properties should be exempt, how the annual maximum rent increase is calculated, vacancy ("vacancy decontrol") and the definition of "fair return." The board voted to enter an executive session earlier in the meeting, approved its Feb. 27 minutes and then returned to public discussion before taking public comment.

The board will forward a written report compiling the range of views expressed at the March meeting to the Borough Council and asked staff and the board committee to draft proposed ordinance edits for review at a follow-up meeting next month. The committee said any final ordinance language would then move through council procedures, including finance committee review.

Why it matters: The changes under discussion affect how much landlords can raise rents, which rental units are covered by the ordinance and how the town enforces rent limits when units turn over. Board members and public commenters said those decisions could materially affect students, working families, seniors on fixed incomes and other residents who rent in Highland Park.

Board discussion and recommendations

Exemptions: whether owner-occupied duplexes should be excluded from the ordinance was the first major topic. Diane, Rent Control Board member, argued in favor of exempting owner-occupied two-family homes, saying many are owned by long-term residents and seniors: "I do think that owner occupied 2 families should exist," she said. Several other board members said they prefer no exemptions; Terry, Rent Control Board member, noted uncertainty in local records about how many two-family structures are owner-occupied and suggested confirmation from the tax assessor.

The board recorded two approximations during discussion:…