Footnotes 1 -      N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1, 2        return 2  -    The New Jersey State Constitution Art. 4, Sec. 6, Par. 2, provides that the legislature may enact laws under which municipalities may adopt zoning ordinances, but such laws are within the police power of the state and subject to repeal or alteration by the Legislature.   return 3  -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-1 et. seq. provides that all community residences shall be licensed by the Department of Human Services and subject to its regulation.  return 4 -     Under the original Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq., discriminatory housing practices include, but are not limited to, refusing to rent or sell; making a dwelling unavailable; imposing different conditions or terms in sale, rental or financing of a dwelling; making, printing or publishing notices or statements that limit, prohibit, or express a preference based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin.           return 5 -     One good example might be a local ordinance that required 1500 foot spacing between community residences for persons with developmental disabilities. If the municipality enacted an ordinance that required Black, Asian or Jewish families to live 1500 feet from one another, it would be blatantly discriminatory. It is now equally discriminatory when applied to persons with disabilities.    return 6 -     42 U.S.C. §3602 This definition is broad enough to include persons who may have been but are not now handicapped or persons who are perceived as being handicapped.    return 7 -     42 U.S.C. §3604 provides that discrimination includes refusal to permit, at the handicapped person's expense, reasonable modifications necessary to afford a person the full enjoyment of the premises and refusal to make accommodations in policies, practices and procedures when necessary to afford a person an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.     return 8  -    In Hovsons v. Township of Brick, 89 F.3d 1096(3d Cir. 1996), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal appellate court, held that the Township had to grant variances to build a nursing home in a Rural Residential Zone.     return 9  -    N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et. seq.     return 10 -    Arc v. State of New Jersey, 950 F. Supp. 637 (D.N.J. 1996).     return 11 -    42 U.S.C. §3604.        return 12 -    26 C.F.R. §36.208.      return 13 -    House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee report on the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, Report 100-711, pg. 24.        return 14 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11 B-4.     return 15 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-5.      return 16 -    For a discussion of unlicensed community residences, see Section IX, below.     return 17 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-2, 3, 4.        return 18 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-4.2.    return 19 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-2.      return 20 -    Ibid.   return 21 -    Overlook Terrace Mgmt. Corp. v. West New York Rent Control Bd., 71 N.J. 451, 461-62 (1976).     return 22 -    Ibid.   return 23 -    N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1.   return 24 -    Ibid.   return 25 -    In 1992 New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination was amended so as to track the provisions of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. N.J.S.A. 10:5-9.2, 12.4 and 12.5. See, also N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.1 et seq.     return 26 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f).         return 27 -    Arc of New Jersey v. State of N.J., 950 F.Supp. 637 (D.N.J. 1996). See also, Association for Advancement of the Mentally Handicapped, Inc. v. City of Elizabeth, 876 F.Supp. 614 (D.N.J. 1994).         return 28 -    Keep in mind, of course, that the statutory definition of licensed community residences limits their size to 15 or 16 residents, depending on the licensing authority. See Section I, above.  return 29 -    N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1.   return 30 -    Township of West Orange v. Whitman, 8 F.Supp.2d 408 (D.N.J. 1998). The court found no reason to evaluate the validity of the neighbors’ claim that community residences threatened them. The neighbors’ legal arguments were so flawed, the court held, that they could not stand even if the claims were true. Independent sampling of the materials offered by the neighbors strongly suggests that they do not support the neighbors’ contentions regarding the dangerousness of community residences.       return 31-     42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(1) and (f)(2).   return 32 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-2 (definition of “community residence for the mentally ill”); see N.J.S.A. 30:11B-3 (Community residences must provide “assistance in maintaining a basic level of self-care.”) and N.J.A.C. 10:37A-1.2 (definitions of services, including “education,” “individual service coordination,” and “training in daily living skills”).     return 33 -    See N.J.A.C. 10:37A-1.2 (“[S]taff support services” is defined as “interventions provided by on-site staff, which may include verbal support or behavior management, in accordance with the needs of the client(s).” [emphasis added]).         return 34 -    N.J.A.C. 10:37A-4.5 (listing the records that must be kept by the agencies that run community residences for mentally ill adults).  return 35 -    N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1.   return 36 -    N.J.S.A. 55:13B-3 (Definition of “boarding home” specifically excluding community residences).  return 37 -    N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.9(b).   return 38 -    FTO-8 also addresses the classification of community residential facilities licensed by the Division of Youth and Family Services.      return 39 -    FTO-8, at 4.    return 40 -    FTO-8, at 2.    return 41 -    Ibid, at 1.     return 42 -    See Section IX, below.  return 43 -    Ibid., at 3.  return 44 -    Ibid., at 1, note 1.    return 45 -    See Section II, above.  return 46 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-5.      return 47 -    Arc of New Jersey v. State of N.J., 950 F.Supp. 637 (D.N.J. 1996). See also, Association for Advancement of the Mentally Handicapped, Inc. v. City of Elizabeth, 876 F.Supp. 614 (D.N.J. 1994).         return 48 -    For a case that found racial steering violative of the federal Fair Housing Act, see Fair Housing Council of Bergen County, Inc. v. Eastern Bergen County Multiple Listing Service, 422 F.Supp. 1071, 1075-76 (D.N.J. 1976), relying on 42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(a). For the parallel provision of the Fair Housing Act dealing with discrimination on the basis of disability, see 42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(1).       return 49 -    For just such an instance, see Marbrunak, Inc. v. City of Stow, 974 F.2d 43 (6th Cir. 1992).  return 50 -    N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1.  return 51 -    This was the ordinance at issue in Belle Terre v. Boraas, 416 U.S. 1, 94 S.Ct. 1536, 39 L.Ed.2d 797 (1974).     return 52 -    This was the ordinance at issue in City of Edmonds v. Oxford House, Inc., 514 U.S. 725, 115 S.Ct. 1776, 131 L.Ed.2d 801 (1995). return 53 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3607(b)(1).      return 54 -    Ibid. This did not mean that such limitations are prohibited. They are simply not exempt, which would render them free from analysis under the Fair Housing Act’s provisions. Rather, they are subject to the Act’s antidiscrimination mandates. City of Edmonds v. Oxford House, Inc., 514 U.S. at 737, 115 S.Ct. at 1783.     return 55 -    State v. Baker, 81 N.J. 99, 108 (1979). return 56 -    State v. Baker, 81 N.J. at 113.         return 57 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3607(b)(1); City of Edmonds v. Oxford House, 514 U.S. at, 734, 115 S.Ct., 1781, 131 L.Ed.2d 801. In City of Edmonds, the Court concluded that “rules that cap the total number of occupants in order to prevent overcrowding ‘plainly and unmistakably’ fall within” the Fair Housing Act’s “absolute exemption.” City of Edmonds v. Oxford House, Inc., 514 U.S. at 735, 115 S.Ct. at 1782 (internal citation omitted).         return 58 -    Borough of Glassboro v. Vallorosi, 221 N.J. Super. 610, 617 (Ch. Div. 1987), aff’d, 224 N.J. Super. 91 (App. Div. 1988), aff’d 117 N.J. 421 (1990).     return 59 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(3)(B); N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(e)2.   return 60 -    See Helen L. v. DiDario, 46 F.3d 325, 337 (3d Cir.1995) (interpreting the reasonable accommodation provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act).   return 61 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(9). New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination does not have a direct threat exception. This discussion will proceed on the assumption that such an exception would be read into the law, though the assumption can be challenged.  return 62 -    Township of West Orange v. Whitman, 8 F.Supp.2d 408, 428 (D.N.J. 1998).         return 63 -    N.J.S.A. 30:11B-2 and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1.  return 64 -    In the Matter of the Commitment of J.W., 288 N.J.Super. 197 (App. Div. 1996).   return 65 -    Ibid. at 202-203, 208.  return 66 -    H.R.Rep. No. 711, 100th Cong., 2d Sess. 9 (1988), reprinted in 1988 U.S.C.C.A.N. 2173, 2181.    return 67 -    In the Matter of the Commitment of J.W., 288 N.J.Super. at 207.         return 68 -    Ibid. at 204.   return 69 -    Township of West Orange v. Whitman, 8 F.Supp.2d at 428.         return 70 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(1), (2); 24 C.F.R. sec. 100.202(a), (b); N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4.     return 71 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3602(h).         return 72 -    N.J.S.A. 10:5-5(q).     return 73 -    Santiago v. City of Vineland, 107 F. Supp. 2d 512 (D.N.J. 2000); Enriquez v. West Jersey Health Systems, 342 N.J. Super. 501 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 170 N.J. 211 (2001).  return 74 -    24 C.F.R. sec.100.202(c).       return 75 -    24 C.F.R. sec.100.202(c)(1) to (5).       return 76 -    N.J.S.A. 10:5-8.1(a).      return 77 -    N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(g).        return 78 -    Franklin Tower One LLC v. N.M., 157 N.J. 602 (1999) (relying on N.J.S.A. 2A:42-100).        return 79 -    Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee Statement, A. 710, L. 2002, c. 82.       return 80 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:42-100. This predecessor to the LAD amendment applied to existing and prospective tenants who obtain rental vouchers. T.K. v. Landmark West, 353 N.J. Super. 353 (Law Div. 2001), aff'd, 353 N.J. Super 223 (App. Div. 2002).        return 81 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 to -61.12.       return 82 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a)-(q).        return 83 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2.        return 84 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-57.        return 85 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6.        return 86 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1.        return 87 -    Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Statement, A.3251, L. 1991, c. 307.       return 88 -    N.J.A.C. 5:27-3.3(c).        return 89 -    N.J.A.C. 10:37A-9.5. Regulations governing discharge procedures are in N.J.A.C. 10:37A-9.6.       return 90 -    N.J.A.C. 10:44A-4.2. See also N.J.A.C.10:44B-2.2, regarding community care residences for clients of the Division of Developmental Disabilities.        return 91 -    N.J.A.C. 8:43-14.2(a)(4).       return 92 -    N.J.A.C. 8:43-14.2(a)(4)(i).       return 93 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.23 to -61.33.        return 94 -    N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.24(b).       return 95 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(3)(B); 24 C.F.R. 100.204(a); N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(f)2.        return 96 -    N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(c).        return 97 -    N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(e)1.        return 98 -    42 U.S.C. sec. 3604(f)(3)(A); 24 C.F.R. sec. 100.203; N.J.A.C. 13:13-3.4(f).        return back to top