MANCHESTER – Township Mayor Robert Hudak wrote to New Jersey Senate President Nicolas Scutari with concerns about pending bills in the State Legislature that many seniors and public officials feel would adversely impact age restricted communities across the state.
These bills were among four that were the subject of a recent Manchester Coordinating Council (MCC) meeting that drew more than 60 people including homeowner association leaders to the Crestwood Village V Clubhouse.
Red Bank Attorney Ron Catelli of the Catelli Law Firm was the special guest speaker at that MCC meeting. He explained the situation and along with resident and MCC legislative liaison Judy Noonan of Whiting, stressed the need for seniors to take action to oppose these bills.
The mayor’s letter to Scutari read “on behalf of our 26 residential senior communities in Manchester Township with concern regarding Bill S-2537/A-4106. If approved, the bill would enable non-seniors to purchase and own properties in age restricted communities.”
“Manchester is home to upwards of 20,000 seniors; a majority of which live in the 26 age-restricted developments. Many residents choose Manchester because of the rural nature, affordability, and the plethora of amenities provided by the associations,” the mayor added.
“This bill is predatory in nature in that it could lead to real estate professionals and wealthy investors purchasing a significant stake in the communities, changing their community dynamic, and allowing them to rent or profit from flipping houses within the community.”
“While the 80/20 rule was explicit in the 1995 Housing for Older Persons Act for 55+ communities, many of the associations do not have the resources or appropriate unit size for younger families especially for those with young adults and potentially children,” the mayor added in his letter.
Mayor Hudak said that “with support of our leadership in Trenton, we can maintain protections for our seniors in residential communities. This bill would lead to a mass exodus of retired adults in our community as home prices soared to those wealthy enough to purchase many of these units for rental purposes and will completely alter the way of life that residents have grown accustomed to.”
“An influx of purchases from outside the community with intent to rent or resell houses would also allow those outside sources a vote in the association for a community that they have no legitimate interest in. I hope you reconsider allowing this bill to come before the delegation,” the mayor added.
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