Recap of Ride to the Capitol Day, TC Planning Commission Approves Zoning Amendments to TC Commission, and Michigan HB 4246 Passes State House to Increase Housing Supply
In this week’s GAD Top Three a quick recap of Ride to the Capitol Day, Traverse City Planning Commission approves a recommendation to the Traverse City Commission of zoning amendments that can increase housing options and development in Traverse City, and Michigan REALTORS® led State House Bill to incentivize local zoning reform (HB 4246) passes the State House and moves to the State Senate.
1. Recap of Ride to the Capitol Day
This past Tuesday, June 6th, 10 Aspire North REALTORS, Affiliates, and two staff members hopped on a bus to Lansing to engage with State Senators and State Representatives to advocate for important industry issues as well as meet and hear from the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) President, Kenny Parcell, for a NAR Riding With the Brand Program. In conversations, Aspire North had with legislative staff for Senator Michele Hoitenga (her district encompasses Kalkaska and Wexford Counties) and Representative John Roth (his district encompasses large portions of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska) the main real estate issues discussed were reasonable regulation of short-term rentals, a Michigan statewide septic code, and support the state can provide for local zoning reforms. The legislative staff made us aware that until the end of the current Michigan legislative session (June 28th), most of their time will be dedicated to determining and passing a Michigan State budget. You can find a full list of the Michigan REALTORS Legislative Agenda as it was advocated to state representatives here.
2. TC Planning Commission approves Zoning Amendments to TC Commission
In case you missed it (TC Record-Eagle and TC Ticker), the Traverse City Planning Commission this past Tuesday, June 6th passed proposed zoning amendments that would allow more housing variety and density to be built in Traverse City. These proposals will now head to the Traverse City Commission for consideration. The major point of contention for these zoning amendments is whether or not an owner occupancy will be required for accountability and to rectify issues that could occur on the property. I took a deep dive into the effect that owner-occupancy requirements had on California’s ability to increase housing development in a recent blog post: A Carrot—Not a Stick—Toward the Development of Greater Housing Options.
3. Michigan HB 4246 Passes State House to Increase Housing Supply
As of May 10th, 2023 an appropriation bill, led by Michigan REALTORS, House Bill 4246 has passed the Michigan State House and will now move to the Michigan State Senate for consideration. It is a 97-page bill so I still need to work my way through it. However, the summary as provided by Michigan REALTORS is an appropriation bill for a total of $5 million that would be made available to local governments for making zoning reforms that improve the ability for greater housing development. This bill would require that local communities show the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) that they have improved housing availability, density, and affordability to receive a portion of these funds. Zoning reforms would include reductions in lot and home sizes, smaller setback requirements, elimination of height restrictions, and by-right development, among others. Michigan REALTORS is working to potentially pass this bill prior to the end of the current Michigan legislative session on June 28th.
