Legislation long promoted by builders in Arizona would see a shortened and less complicated building process for affordable housing projects across the state.
As introduced by Representatives Cesar Chavez and Steve Kaiser, House Bill 2674 also calls for a simplification of existing zoning laws for such projects.
The measure, which has yet to be voted on by the full House, would additionally provide up to $89 million in state funding for both localities and non-profits wanting to build housing.
In a statement, Kaiser remarked that the “single biggest barrier to increasing the housing supply are municipal regulations and restrictive zoning laws, which impede growth.”
Part of the effort to remove well-known barriers to the approval process is seen in the legislation’s proposal that no property shall be declared as historical, “except after a public hearing on notice of the owners of record of the property.”
The legislation also mandates that planning commissions, or hearing officers, should be allowed to decide on a given project “without holding a second public hearing if there is no objection, request for public heating, or other protest.”
If passed, the bill would also make land zoned for other purposes available for housing construction, while also making it easier to build higher-density projects.
Representative Chavez said the measure was particularly urgent for the simple reason that Arizona currently needs to build up to 270,000 new homes just to keep up with demand.
The Arizona legislature is scheduled to conclude its work on May 13.
By Garry Boulard
