eNews Action Alert – January 19, 2025

Oppose two housing bills that will be in the Senate Local Government Committee Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 19, 2025/Categories: eNews

Oppose two housing bills that will be in the Senate Local Government Committee Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.

OPPOSE: SB839 (VanValkenburg) Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use

This proposed legislation would require localities to allow multifamily development in commercial and business zoned areas and requires that the review of such proposal be completed administratively.

Talking points:

• This is a rezoning by the State without local government or their citizens providing input.
• Erodes local authority – zoning is a local decision by the local governing body after public input.
• Commercial and business zoned property was created by the locality with input from the citizens and is deliberately designated for commercial and business uses not for residential living.

OPPOSE: SB975 (VanValkenburg) Statewide housing targets; requires localities to increase their total housing stock

This proposed legislation requires localities to increase their total housing stock every year and also creates a “Housing Approval Board” that can overturn a local governing body's decision on a residential project. The Board can provide a locality a reprieve from the growth if they adopt prescriptive housing growth strategies as outlined in the bill and has not rejected more than 25% of new housing development over the past 5 years.

Talking points:

• Local Government Body decisions should only be appealed to a Court of Law.
• Housing growth is not determined by government; it is determined by the market and the builders.
• This is a complete erosion of local control as the state should not be able to dictate housing growth in our communities or upend a local governing bodies decision.

Action requested: Contact the members of the Senate Local Government Committee and ask them to vote "No" on these bills!

VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org