Senator Carmen F. Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory P. Myhre have raised concerns about the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) proposed Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) regulations. The lawmakers warned that these rules could increase costs for families, retirees, and small businesses while lowering property values and placing additional burdens on local governments.
In a joint statement, the delegation said: “While we fully recognize the need for responsible climate resiliency planning, these proposed rules in their current form would drive up costs for families, retirees, and small businesses while lowering property values and burdening towns with unfunded mandates. The result would be higher housing costs, higher taxes, and serious harm to the Shore economy.”
The legislators stated that the new regulations would expand flood zone designations and require more expensive elevation, permitting, and construction measures in affected communities. According to them: “These regulations would dramatically expand flood zone designations and impose costly elevation, permitting, and construction requirements across our communities. Families and retirees could be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to remain compliant. Property values would drop, and insuring a home could become more difficult.”
They also expressed concerns about how the process has been handled by state officials: “These sweeping changes have been pushed forward without sufficient transparency, consultation, or cost-benefit analysis. Local governments and planning authorities have been left out of the conversation, even though they will be on the front lines of compliance.”
The delegation noted that not only coastal areas but also inland towns may be affected if new flood risk zones are established: “Inland towns, riverfront communities, and suburban neighborhoods would also be drawn into new ‘flood risk’ zones, leading to higher insurance premiums and taxpayer costs across the state.”
“As representatives of the 9th Legislative District,” they added in their statement,“we urge the NJDEP to slow down this process and work with our local officials to ensure a fair, transparent, and realistic plan. We need solutions that protect our environment while preserving the economic stability of our communities, not regulations that drive up costs and force families out of their homes.”
A virtual public hearing on NJDEP’s proposed REAL rules is scheduled for September 3 at 6:00 p.m.
