Commission member warns state housing task force isn’t engaging private builders, flags GMA oversight

Jim (Speaker 7) reported he had contacted the lieutenant governor’s office and attended related task‑force meetings; he said private‑sector builders have been hard to engage and that the task force’s discussions had not adequately considered how the Growth Management Act affects single‑family ownership. "The GMA is now making a big assumption that pretty much middle income ownership is going to be some form of attached or condos," he said, arguing that many middle‑income households still want small detached homes.

Members agreed that the commission should examine how state policy and a potential new Department of Housing interact with GMA constraints. Several participants urged that the commission compile practical, locally informed suggestions for legislators and the task force showing the "art of the possible" to expand options without destabilizing job‑allocation or other state mandates.