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Senate panel advances package of bills to repurpose commercial sites, ease parking rules and fund transit village planning
Summary
The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee released several housing bills aimed at converting underused retail and office space into housing, trimming parking minimums near transit and creating a $25 million enhanced transit-village planning fund. Supporters said the measures would increase affordable housing supply; municipal groups warned of state preemption of local land-use authority.
The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee on Monday advanced a slate of bills intended to spur housing production by repurposing underused commercial properties, reducing parking requirements near transit and funding transit-oriented planning.
Committee staff summarized S 14o8 as authorizing conversions of certain office parks and retail centers into mixed-use developments. Alex Witcher, managing director of external affairs at Fair Share Housing Center, told the committee the measure “would allow for the creation of thousands of affordable housing units” by utilizing existing structures and infrastructure and would lower construction costs and accelerate timelines. “This law just makes good common sense,” Witcher…
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