Sen. Joseph Lagana proposes counting rent‑stabilized units to reduce New Milford’s affordable‑housing obligation

Sen. Joseph Lagana on Tuesday told New Milford officials he intends to introduce legislation that would allow municipalities to count rent‑stabilized units toward their Mount Laurel–era affordable‑housing obligations, a change he said could substantially reduce the borough’s required new construction.

Lagana, who identified himself as the state senator for the district that includes New Milford, said the bill under development would give a municipality “one credit per one housing unit that is rent stabilized,” and that the change could, in some cases, eliminate much of a town’s current obligation if many units qualify. He warned that the draft language must be negotiated with housing advocates and the courts’ special‑standing plaintiff, Fair Share Housing, to avoid unintended statewide consequences.

The measure’s goal, Lagana said, is to address a technical mismatch in how older HUD‑subsidized garden apartments — many of which in New Milford are rent‑stabilized — are counted in the state’s affordable‑housing formulas. “There are places where credits are being provided. If they’re fully affordable, if it’s for seniors, if it’s for veterans,” Lagana said, “but nowhere does it say anything about rent control. If we were to pass legislation that would basically give you one credit per one housing unit that is rent stabilized, then it would count towards your obligation.”

Lagana told the council he and his Assembly partners are working with advocates and the chairs of housing committees; he said the bill could be introduced as soon as May and must then clear committee stages before a full House vote. He said a judicial stay of the current round would be a matter for the courts, not the Legislature, and offered to meet with borough counsel to examine local legal timing.

Residents used the public Q&A to press officials on consequences they said matter locally. “I can’t afford my taxes to go up so we can add on to schools again,” said Kathy Columbus, a 48‑year resident and former teacher, raising the familiar concern that added schoolchildren would increase municipal costs. Students and parents asked whether the town would face overcrowded classrooms and insufficient parks if a large number of units were built; officials repeatedly responded that school‑hiring decisions rest with the school board and that legislative relief aims to reduce, not expand, mandated overdevelopment.

Lagana acknowledged environmental and infrastructure concerns specific to New Milford, noting repetitive‑flooding areas and that some projected development sites lie in flood zones. “If we can get to a good place with Fair Share Housing where they may be amendable to something like this, then it goes a lot easier,” he said, adding that the bill could be tailored narrowly to limit statewide knock‑on effects.

Mayor Patino and council members encouraged residents to contact legislators and to testify at committee hearings once the bill is introduced. Lagana said his office will solicit input from towns and advocates before finalizing language.

The presentation and public Q&A were informational; no binding action was taken by the council at the meeting. The legislative proposal remains at the drafting and stakeholder‑consultation stage.