Senator Vince Polistina and Assemblyman Don Guardian, both representing Atlantic County, have announced plans to introduce legislation that would return control of planning and zoning decisions to Atlantic City. Currently, these functions are shared between the city government and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), especially in the city’s Tourism District, which comprises half of Atlantic City. Since 2016, state oversight has been in place under the Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act (MSRA).
“When the takeover under MSRA began, the goal was for the State to help Atlantic City manage its financial challenges and avoid repeating past mistakes while building the capacity for self-governance,” said Senator Vince Polistina. “We cannot consider extending any takeover without a clear path toward restoring core municipal functions, particularly the City’s ability to manage its own planning and zoning.”
Assemblyman Don Guardian, who previously served as mayor of Atlantic City, also emphasized support for increasing local responsibility within MSRA guidelines while easing restrictions imposed by S-11—the law that established the tourism district.
“Planning and zoning are key responsibilities of any local government,” Guardian said. “Through different agencies and programs, the State has poured millions of dollars into Atlantic City in recent years to attract private investment. The builders are here, they want to build, and they should be evaluated on the merits of their proposals by city residents — now re-enfranchised — who sit on these local governing boards.”
Senator Polistina pointed out that transferring planning and zoning duties back to city officials would allow CRDA staff to focus more on redevelopment projects.
“The CRDA has incredibly qualified staff, brought on board to handle major redevelopment projects. By allowing them to concentrate on reinvestment and redevelopment, the entire city benefits,” Polistina added. “Major projects like the transformation of Renaissance Plaza demonstrate where CRDA works best, while allowing Atlantic City to resume responsibility for core municipal functions.”
The legislators also mentioned plans for a working group including members from state legislative delegations, local elected officials from both city and county levels, representatives from CRDA, and other stakeholders. This group will address ongoing discussions about state oversight extension with an emphasis on guiding reinvestment efforts while establishing a framework for returning control over municipal functions back to Atlantic City.
Senator Polistina, Assemblyman Guardian, and Assemblywoman Swift expressed their commitment to supporting greater independence for Atlantic City through collaboration with regional partners.
