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Senate committee debate over bill to suspend zoning code ends with plan to continue talks
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Summary
Senators, zoning officials and business representatives debated Senate Bill 24-23, which would suspend parts of the Commonwealth zoning code and related laws for five years. The committee did not advance the bill and agreed to further meetings with zoning officials, the bill author and other stakeholders.
Senate Bill 24-23, a proposal to suspend administration and implementation of the Commonwealth zoning code and related site and zoning law for five years, drew extended testimony from business owners, zoning officials and senators but was not adopted. The committee agreed to further review the measure and requested an additional meeting with zoning and other stakeholders.
The bill’s author, Senator Manny Castro, said the intent was not to abolish zoning but to "suspend it and reassess" because of inconsistencies and delays he and some constituents have experienced. "The bill is not to abolish zoning. We do recognize the value of having zoning in place," Castro said, adding that the goal is to "look at programmatic issues" and simplify processes for applicants.
Business and zoning stakeholders urged different remedies. Alex Sablan and business-owner Steve Jiang told the committee that zoning is necessary but needs modernization and simplification; Jiang said abolishing zoning would invite "chaos, inconsistency, [and] community disputes." Zoning Administrator Theresa Gomorrah (also identified in the transcript as the agency administrator) urged the committee to disapprove the bill, saying it lacked justification for a suspension and noting the agency already is working on process improvements.
Board members and some senators warned the bill’s suspension provisions could be disruptive. Chairman Topschneider and other board supporters said suspending the code for five years and dissolving the board — language that appears in the draft bill — would remove land-use controls and risk inconsistent development. "If you suspend the zoning law for 5 years ... those poker arcades are gonna go back to where the money might be in the villages," one board member said during the hearing, urging caution about unintended consequences.
Senators pressed zoning staff on operational metrics and gaps. Administrator Gomorrah said the office issues roughly 300–400 permits and clearances per month and uses a database to track performance; she also told senators staffing constraints remain a primary obstacle. Gomorrah estimated about 50% of staff time is diverted to tasks outside permitting and enforcement. Board members said they are discussing turnaround times and customer outreach in board meetings and that some recent outreach sessions produced low public turnout.
The committee chair, Senator Karina L. Macofner, closed the hearing by asking parties to continue discussions and directed staff to schedule follow-up sessions that will include DPW, zoning leadership and authors. "If time is needed to make the improvements on the processes or maybe look at the regulations and see how we can better improve them, then we have to come together and work it out," she said. With no formal objections, the chair said the bill would be tabled for further review and stakeholders would be invited back for a focused meeting.
No committee vote on the bill was recorded in the transcript; senators and zoning officials requested additional engagement before the committee considers formal action.
