We thank Gov. Katie Hobbs for her veto of House Bill 2570, an action that preserves the valuable resident input in planning and development decisions.The veto helps avoid irreversible and long-term impacts on years of thoughtful urban planning that created the desirable and safe communities our residents enjoy calling home.While titled the Arizona Starter Home Act, HB 2570 amounted to a giveaway to developers with no guarantee it would help Arizonans achieve homeownership.It was fast-tracked through the legislative process without meaningful discussions and resident input that is standard for decisions made at the level of government that is closest and most accessible to residents: cities and towns.We appreciate Governor Hobbs’ recognition of that fact and look forward to seeing collaborative and meaningful housing proposals reach her desk for signature. What cities are doing to boost affordabilityThere is no denying that Arizona has a housing shortage.Mayors and council members from across our state agree that more should be done to ensure new and longtime residents, first-time homebuyers and middle-class Arizonans can easily find an affordable home. This issue demands collaborative action at the state and local levels. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns is working with state leaders to balance regulatory certainty for developers with resident participation in decision-making processes.Another view:Hobbs’ housing bill veto is unfortunateWe are supporting measures at the state Capitol this session that streamline rezoning applications for housing projects within a 180-day “shot clock.”The league is also supporting a measure to encourage adaptive reuse or redevelopment of underutilized commercial buildings into housing, aiming to maximize urban density while ensuring proximity to essential services.We are also collaborating on measures to streamline middle housing options, such as townhomes, plex developments and accessory dwelling units.The league aims to refine these legislative proposals to mitigate unintended consequences and facilitate the successful development of diverse housing options for residents.Radical zoning changes are unnecessaryLooking at data from September 2023, the Maricopa Association of Governments found that there were 275,000 units in the pipeline i …
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