§ 52:27D-313 — Petition for substantive certification.

13. a. If a municipality has adopted a housing element and fair share plan pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1), but has failed to satisfy the June 30 deadline established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection f. of section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1), for any round of affordable housing obligations, the municipality may request and be provided with a grace period pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection f. of section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1), if authorized by the program or county-level housing judge, as determined by the rules of court. If a municipality that has not satisfied this June 30 deadline is not provided with a grace period, the municipality may institute an action for declaratory judgment granting it repose in the Superior Court for the 10-year period constituting the current round of fair share obligations. The municipality shall publish notice of its filing of a declaratory judgment action in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality and county and shall make available to the public information on the element and ordinances by submitting such information to the program to be published on the Internet website of the program in accordance with section 3 of P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1). b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2024, c.2) c. (1) A municipality or other interested party may file an action through the program seeking a realistic opportunity review at the midpoint of the certification period and shall provide for notice to the public, including a realistic opportunity review of any inclusionary development site in the housing element and fair share plan that has not received preliminary site plan approval prior to the midpoint of the 10-year round. If such an action is initiated by a municipality, the municipality may propose one or more alternative sites with an accompanying development plan or plans that provide a realistic opportunity for the same number of affordable units and is otherwise in compliance with the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) and the Mount Laurel doctrine, provided that if the facts demonstrate that the municipality or its subordinate boards have prevented the site from receiving site plan approval, then the program shall reject the municipality's challenge. (2) Any party may file a request for information from the program regarding the progress of development at any inclusionary development site in the housing element and fair share plan of a municipality or at any alternative site proposed by the municipality. The program may respond to a request independently or in coordination with the department. L.1985,c.222,s.13; amended 1990, c.121; 2001, c.435, s.5; 2024, c.2, s.4.