A move is underway in Arizona to allow for more housing construction on lands that are owned by religious organizations.
A bill just approved on an 11 to 5 vote in the Arizona House’s Appropriations Committee would give churches, synagogues, and mosques – among other religious non-profits – the ability to build multi-family structures on their property.
As proposed, HB 2191 would also allow for such projects to move forward whether they are in conflict with local zoning laws. It also mandates that no project can be undertaken if it is within 75 feet of a neighboring structure.
In trying to address the specific need for increased affordable housing, the bill, sponsored by Republican Davis Livingston and Democrat Sarah Ligouri, additionally states that any new residential project must have at least 45% of its units designated for low-income residents.
The measure is seen as just one more move by Arizona lawmakers to address a growing need for more housing in one of the fastest-growing states in the country. In voicing his support for the bill, Democrat Representative Kevin Volk remarked: “We are cornered into a crisis where we have 180,000 or 270,000 needed housing units in Arizona.”
February 27, 2025
By Garry Boulard
