(The Center Square) — The General Assembly is pushing through another bill vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year that would enable all Virginia localities to amend their zoning ordinances to create more opportunities for government-sanctioned affordable housing across the commonwealth.
Under Virginia law, only a limited number of localities are authorized to do so. With expanded authority, bill patron Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, hopes localities can begin to reduce the commonwealth’s affordable housing supply, which currently faces a shortage of an estimated 300,000 rental units.
McPike has argued the bill strikes the right balance in allowing the decision-making power to rest with localities.
“I think we’ve struggled in this committee with ‘what is the right weight?’ Right?” McPike said, addressing the Senate Local Government Committee. “Do you force certain mandates on a locality? This doesn’t. This provides the ‘may;’ it provides them the toolbox that they’ve been looking for to address the different needs.”
He emphasized that the bill directs localities looking to create an affordable housing program to first devise an advisory committee and “actively seek input from residents, developers of residential and mixed-use property, real estate professionals, historic preservation professionals, redevelopment and housing professionals and advocates, planners, urban design professionals, representatives of low-income and moderate-income households, and finance professionals.”
“I think it’s important that each locality have the community discussion around affordable housing. Whether it’s mixed-use properties or others, it should be driven by local input from local citizens and a local board,” McPike said.
As it did last year, the Youngkin administration opposes the legislation.
“These sorts of ordinances force a form of price control in terms of making affordability a requirement in developments without necessarily having the incentives to help the developers absorb those costs,” said an administration representative.
Senate Bill 1313 steadily progressed through the chamber. It advanced from a House subcommittee Thursday and then out of the full committee along party lines Friday, with a vote of 12-9. If it passes the Democratic-majority House, the measure will again land on the governor’s desk.
