A bipartisan housing bill got crushed in the Arizona Legislature
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Jack Johnson/KJZZ
An apartment under construction in Goodyear, Arizona.
The housing crisis facing Arizona is certainly one of the most pressing issues facing lawmakers and regulators.
But Monday at the state Capitol, a major bipartisan effort aimed at solving the monumental problem died. And now potential solutions from state lawmakers are likely another year away.
SB 1117 would have required Arizona cities and towns to allow new homes, duplexes and triplexes on very small lots in residential areas and allow homeowners to add backyard casitas to their properties. The wide-ranging proposal would have eliminated many local zoning laws across the state.
Other provisions in the bill included:
- Banning cities from enforcing design standards
- Eliminating requirements for off-street parking
- Overriding some height restrictions
- Requiring cities with light rail to allow apartments to be built on any commercially zoned property within two miles of the rail line
- Bypassing current requirements that local planning boards review new proposals and fast-tracks city approvals
Hank Stephenson of The Arizona Agenda has been covering the bill, and he joined The Show to discuss its ups and downs.
