House committee hears changes to SB 974A: shot clocks, up‑zoning process and temporary design‑review waivers

The House Committee on Housing and Homelessness opened a public hearing May 19 on Senate Bill 974A, a package of amendments that would set engineering “shot clocks,” create a fast‑track process for certain residential up‑zones and temporarily limit some local design‑review requirements.

The changes in the A5 amendment would lengthen completeness and review deadlines for engineering approvals, allow applicant‑requested extensions, push an operative date to July 1, 2026, and add a temporary waiver of some aesthetic design standards through the end of 2032, proponents told the committee.

Why it matters: Supporters say the bill would shorten the time between entitlement and construction for housing projects already inside urban growth boundaries. Cities and preservation groups warned the committee that language on mixed‑use zones, notice and design waivers needs tightening to protect infrastructure, jobs land and historic neighborhoods.

The amendment would align engineering review timing with existing land‑use shot‑clock statutes, increasing the completeness review from 14 days to 30 days and the full review from 90 days to 120 days, with applicant‑controlled extensions “up to 245 days,” Legislative Counsel Robert Margaret explained to the committee. The amendment also…