Briefings
What changed in environmental, land-use and permitting rules for development in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania: what happened, who is affected and the next date that matters.
- MediumNew York
New York court blocks commercial tax class for vacant residential lots outside Manhattan
Two appellate rulings require New York City to tax vacant residential lots in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island in class one, and let owners correct some past years.
In courtHousingTaxes & incentives - MediumNew York County, NY
New York high court upholds SoHo and NoHo conversion fee; Supreme Court conference October 9
The Court of Appeals held on January 13, 2026 that the $100-per-square-foot fee to convert artist live-work units to ordinary residential use is not a taking. A petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review that ruling is set for its October 9 conference.
In courtHousingTaxes & incentives - MediumUnion County, NJ
New Jersey appeals court bars Elizabeth from ending a mixed-use project's tax exemption by ordinance
An unpublished ruling holds that Elizabeth's repeal of three tax-exemption agreements for a mixed-use redevelopment project impaired the developer's contracts, and sends the remaining disputes to arbitration.
- MediumNew Jersey
New Jersey weighs up to 129 Opportunity Zone tracts, with housing a priority, by October 28
New Jersey will nominate new federal Opportunity Zones by an extended October 28 deadline, ranking tracts partly on housing capacity; designations would run from January 1, 2027, through 2036.
ProposedTaxes & incentivesHousing - LowHudson County, NJ
New Jersey governor vetoes bill letting Jersey City use open space trust money for its budget
On September 28, 2026 the Governor vetoed S-4513, which would have let Jersey City, the only municipality that qualified, move voter-approved open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland and historic preservation money into its budget for fiscal year 2027. The trust fund stays restricted.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut nuclear bids still undecided as state prepares town opt-in host program and site grants
On September 24, 2026 DEEP said it is still evaluating nuclear proposals in its zero-carbon procurement. A 2025 law lets towns opt in to host advanced reactors and funds site readiness grants; two 2026 data-center bills were not taken up before the session ended on May 6.
ProposedEnergy & gridTaxes & incentives - HighNew Jersey
New Jersey proposes revised grid battery storage incentive rules and holds back rules for distributed storage
The notice describes how security, delay damages and incentive payments would work for large grid-scale storage projects, while rules for distributed storage await alignment with the virtual power plant program.
ProposedEnergy & gridTaxes & incentives - MediumNew Jersey
New Jersey law gives towns that zone for more housing an edge for state grants
A law signed August 27, 2026, rewards towns that allow accessory units, duplexes, less parking or housing near transit with preference for state grants, road money and school construction aid.
- MediumNew Jersey
New Jersey halves AI data center tax credits and closes the program to new applicants
A new law cuts the state's artificial intelligence and data center credit pool from $500 million to $250 million; the state says the remaining credits are fully allocated.
- MediumAllegheny County, PA
Pennsylvania approves pilot letting downtown Pittsburgh office-to-housing conversions keep commercial electrical service
A Duquesne Light pilot, in effect since August 27, lets publicly funded conversions with affordable units meter apartments behind existing 277/480-volt commercial service instead of rebuilding it.
- MediumNew Jersey
New Jersey tells towns how to negotiate data center benefit deals and property tax breaks
State guidance lists what towns should cover in community benefits agreements with data center developers, restates labor rules for data center construction, and urges caution on long-term tax exemptions.
- MediumNew Jersey
New Jersey court approval fixes cleanup funding rules at four former DuPont chemical plants
A federal judge approved New Jersey's PFAS settlement with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva, starting the clock on cleanup financial assurance at Chambers Works, Parlin, Pompton Lakes and Repauno.
- LowConnecticut
Connecticut auditors fault approval of state's only data center tax break as program stays intact
A state audit finds no record that a required review preceded Connecticut's only data center incentive deal; the 20-to-30-year tax exemptions and host-town agreements remain law.