Union of BC Municipalities’ Post

While zoning reforms are definitely cause to celebrate, they're not enough to end the housing crisis alone. Abt Global's Jeffrey Lubell, J.D. and Naganika Sanga, Ph.D. outline four complementary policies state governments can use alongside zoning reforms to address housing supply issues. #Housing #HousingPolicy #HousingCrisis

Likely changes in housing policy under the next administration - Post 5/5: AFFH, Housing Supply, Zoning, Anti-Nimbyism etc. 1. You can be near certain that the Biden Administration's Proposed (February 2023) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (AFFH) will be suspended and cancelled. On Day One. 2. P25 proposes eliminating the Housing Supply Plan and Housing Supply Fund. 3. There is some debate as to whether the anti-anti-Nimby wording in Project 25 from Dr. Ben Carson actually represents the views of the administration? Quoting directly from the P25 document: "...local autonomy and the ability of cities, towns, neighborhoods, and communities to choose for themselves the sort of housing they want to allow." (p. 511). "It is essential that legislation provides states and localities maximal flexibility to pursue locally designed policies and minimize the likelihood of federal preemption of local land use and zoning decisions." (p. 511) 4. Emphasis on preserving single-family-only zoning.

The Planning and Development Committee voted on several bills out of committee Friday, including one dubbed the “Work Live Ride” bill regarding transit-oriented development that could impact the future of housing in the state. The work-live-ride legislation, House Bill 5390, contains several provisions regarding affordable housing in the state, including one that would provide financial incentives to municipalities that implement transit-oriented development (TOD) policies. Specifically, towns and cities that pass zoning for TODs would be prioritized for funding under several bills and discretionary funds. #landuse#zoning

The Planning and Development Committee voted on several bills out of committee Friday, including one dubbed the “Work Live Ride” bill regarding transit-oriented development that could impact the future of housing in the state. The work-live-ride legislation, House Bill 5390, contains several provisions regarding affordable housing in the state, including one that would provide financial incentives to municipalities that implement transit-oriented development (TOD) policies. Specifically, towns and cities that pass zoning for TODs would be prioritized for funding under several bills and discretionary funds. #landuse#zoning

Two common barriers that restrict the supply of housing are zoning regulations and land use policies and high construction costs. These barriers are known to increase the cost of housing and exacerbate affordability issues. But, Bryan Caplan, author of @nytimes Op-ed “The Best Plan for Housing is to Plan Less.” says it's not construction costs, they have been “flat for decades.” Caplan says regulations are really the root cause of America’s housing crisis and that deregulating housing will solve a number of issues. Do you think deregulation is the answer? If so, which regulations would you address? . . . #housingcrisis #housingsolutions #housingforbellingham #affordablehousing #whatcomcounty #bellinghamwa

Summary: Several comments expressed concern about the additional regulatory burden from the new statutory and regulatory requirements on efforts to construct affordable housing. Response: DEC is developing general permits to streamline regulatory burdens from statutory and regulatory provisions by providing an efficient path for many projects to comply with regulatory requirements. Above is the reply posted by the NYSDEC in response to concerns raised by many people that the new wetlands regulations that go into effect tomorrow will have significant impacts on the ability to provide "affordable housing" in NY municipalities since anyone trying to build in any area designated as an "urban area" must obtain a permit for any disturbance of a wetland of any size or its buffer. While the goal of protecting wetlands in out state is laudable, the fact that no one seems to have considered measures to address what will be the impact on provision of affordable housing PRIOR to adoption of the laws in inexcusable. Our Governor has made efforts to address the housing shortages in our state but to date not many have had the courage to support her in those efforts. The fact that the DEC will be developing provisions some time in the future is sadly one more piece of evidence that there really is no will in NY and most areas of the US to attempt to address this issue. #affordablehousing

The market alone won’t solve the U.S. housing crisis. 🏘️ This insightful piece from Harvard Business Review argues that market forces alone are insufficient to address the growing housing challenges in the U.S. We need to rethink policies and collaboration between public and private sectors to ensure affordable housing for all. What do you think? How can we better address these pressing issues? #HousingCrisis #PublicPolicy #AffordableHousing #UrbanPlanning

Some of the challenges to affordable housing include an estimated national shortage of 1.5 million to 3.8 million homes due to, in part, “land-use regulations and zoning restrictions that limit what can be built.” White House suggest using tactics to affect local land-use regulations and zoning restrictions. https://lnkd.in/e4u8JSkE

Inclusionary zoning, a policy designed to create affordable housing by requiring or incentivizing developers to set aside a share of below-market-rate units in new projects, has been a topic of much debate. Originating in the 1970s, this policy aims to leverage land-use regulations to increase affordable housing and counteract exclusionary zoning laws that restrict cheaper units in multi-family buildings. However, recent research by UCLA housing expert Shane Phillips highlights the complexities and potential downsides of inclusionary zoning. While the intention is to boost affordable housing, these policies can sometimes backfire, leading to fewer homes overall and higher housing costs. Phillips' study suggests that while there are ways to optimize inclusionary zoning, direct housing subsidies, such as vouchers, might be more effective and flexible. Subsidies allow low-income residents to choose where they want to live and ensure that every dollar spent goes further. As we strive for balanced housing solutions, it's essential to recognize the trade-offs involved in policies like inclusionary zoning. Read more about the study and its implications in the article below. https://lnkd.in/ehgcRJ5V #HousingReform #RealEstate #AffordableHousing #InclusionaryZoning

New Affordable Housing legislation in New Jersey is affecting communities across the state. Read about the changes below and how Neglia Group's Planning Division is working to assist municipalities each step of the way. #Planning #AffordableHousing #Engineering #GIS #NegliaGroup