Legislature’s Housing Supply Study Committee Details Hurdles To More Homes

After massive pushback from the state’s cities and towns, House Bill 2674 – a key piece of AMA legislation – passed the Arizona Legislature this session in compromise form. The result? The formation of the Housing Supply Study Committee, scheduled to meet twice monthly from July until year’s end.

Thus far, the committee’s meetings have deep dug into Arizona’s housing supply crisis, with testimony from a range of housing industry experts, including presentations from homebuilders representing Lennar Homes, DR Horton and K. Hovnanian Homes; a number of housing non-profit leaders; and stakeholders who testified regarding the impacts of water, power and environmental issues on housing development.

“What we’re seeing are some key themes that emerge over and over,” said Jake Hinman, a member of the committee who was appointed by House Speaker Rusty Bowers. “Zoning roadblocks, red tape, NIMBY neighbors making new homes impossible – these issues have conspired to prevent Arizona from addressing the housing supply crisis. We are short 270,000 homes right now. That will not improve until we fix these roadblocks.”

The committee is co-chaired by Rep. Steve Kaiser and Sen. David Gowan. Members include Hinman; Sen. Martin Quezada; Rep. César Chávez, Matt Contorelli, Government Affairs Director at Arizona REALTORS; Joan Serviss, Executive Director, Arizona Housing Coalition; Arizona Department of Housing Director Tom Simplot; Spencer Kamps, Vice President of Legislative Affairs at Home Builders Association of Central AZ; Tempe Mayor Corey Woods; and Jean Moreno, Director of Community Services for the City of Glendale.

The next four public committee meetings will travel the state of Arizona to explore housing issues outside of Maricopa County.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

Flagstaff – September 7, 1-3 p.m.
NACET Conference Room
2225 N. Gemini Road

Tucson – September 12, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
City Council Chambers
255 W. Alameda St., 1st Floor

Sierra Vista – September 21, 1-3 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1011 Coronado Drive

Sedona – September 26, 1-3 p.m.
City Council Chambers
102 Roadrunner Drive

At the conclusion of the study committee, members will issue a final report of findings.

“The first step in solving the housing supply crisis is for everyone to understand the depth of the problems Arizona renters and home buyers face,” said Hinman. “The more we dig in, the more we understand that the development community needs willing partners in cities, towns and municipalities. We can’t have elected leaders who demand more affordable housing on the one hand, then refuse to approve virtually every new development that comes up for a vote. The committee is shining a light on how this failure is driving the housing crisis.”