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Ramsey council urges state lawmakers to reject S4736, saying it would erode local land‑use control
Summary
By unanimous consent the council approved Resolution 210 urging the New Jersey Legislature to oppose bill S4736; council members and the borough administrator said the proposal could bypass municipal planning and allow higher densities and reduced parking without local approval.
The Borough of Ramsey on Nov. 24 approved Resolution 210 urging state legislators to defeat S4736, a bill that borough officials said would undercut local land‑use authority and municipal planning processes.
A borough official explained that the proposed state legislation would permit conversion of underutilized properties into mixed‑use developments, reduce parking requirements near transit and allow certain conversions by religious and nonprofit organizations in ways the borough contended could bypass municipal master‑plan review. "These proposals ... undermine the process outlined in the municipal land use law," the official said, urging state legislators to preserve local autonomy.
Council members said protecting local control over density, height and parking standards is important to maintain the borough’s character. One council member said the borough recently approved a separate local resolution (Resolution 2010, discussed in the meeting) related to fair‑share housing protections that will provide certain protections for a 10‑year period.
Resolution 210 passed as part of the consent agenda. The borough’s explanation framed the action as a request to state lawmakers to preserve municipal land‑use authority and to oppose the specific provisions outlined in the transcript as part of S4736.
The council also approved Resolution 209, a budget transfer with no tax impact, described at the meeting as reallocating funds between line items to cover variances without increasing taxes.
