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Northern Arizona Realtors urge commission to prioritize starter homes, streamline permitting
Summary
The Northern Arizona Association of Realtors told the Flagstaff Housing Commission that building smaller "starter" homes and shortening permitting timelines could help address the city’s housing shortage. Commissioners and the council liaison asked staff to coordinate data-sharing and follow up with the association.
Michelle Linton, president of the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, told the Flagstaff Housing Commission that the region needs more smaller, entry-level homes and simpler city permitting to keep housing affordable.
Linton said the association wants to “increase the availability of all housing types, especially starter homes,” and argued the commission and staff should prioritize reducing development costs and process delays. “Starter homes. We need starter homes. Anything between 900 1300 square feet. We need to get them built,” she said.
The association asked the commission to press city staff to give the commission the time and resources to evaluate policy proposals and to weigh in before departments advance policies that may affect housing costs. Linton pointed to specific cost items developers raise, for example that water meter fees “just went up to $3,000,” and suggested the city examine whether fees or other requirements could be adjusted so builders can offer lower prices to buyers.
Commissioners and Council liaison House asked for concrete ideas. Council member House asked whether the association can propose concepts the commission might not yet know about; Linton described two priorities: (1) smaller single-family product and (2) shortening the permitting and approval timeline so developers spend less during due diligence and pass cost savings on to buyers where possible. Linton also offered to provide market data to the commission on a regular basis and agreed to provide periodic reports: “I would be honored to share that information with you,” she said when asked about a six-month or annual report.
Commissioners said they welcome partnership with the Realtors’ association. City staff confirmed they are already meeting with the association on outreach and coordination and that the commission will have ongoing opportunities to review staff analyses.
The presentation was informational; no action was taken other than asking staff to continue coordinating outreach and to accept written feedback from commissioners ahead of the next staff presentation.
