Yesterday saw two hits in the housing affordability saga in Utah. First was a poll in the Deseret News about what Utahns think should be done about housing affordability. Here’s the very mixed results:
- Sixteen percent of Utahns said zoning restrictions should be adjusted to make it easier to rent out parts of their home, like their basements or spare rooms. (The Utah Legislature did pass a law aimed at this in 2021, HB82, which prohibits cities from restricting certain accessory dwelling units with some exceptions.)
- On the other hand, 15% say state and local governments should do nothing and let the free market play out. The most support for this came from those who identified as “very conservative,” of which 23% picked “do nothing.”
- Another 15% say zoning restrictions should be adjusted for manufactured housing, tiny homes and other nonconventional construction methods in order to build homes more quickly.
- Another 15% said Utah should expand funding to subsidize low-income housing. (The Utah Legislature over the past two years has approved a record amount of funding for housing and homelessness programs, including about $50 million in 2021 and another $70 million this year, though housing advocates have said it’s still far from enough.)
- What about rent control? That’s an option favored by 13%.
- As for more high-density, high-rise residential development, 7% picked that option.
- Only 5% said state and local government should adjust zoning restrictions to allow for quicker construction.
- Thirteen percent answered “other.”
It was interesting to see what the responses were from some of the political players in this crisis Cameron Diehl of the League noted that many of the factors causing the run up in prices are beyond control of local government, and besides, there have been a record number of new housing units permitted and under construction the last couple of years, so how much of this is really caused by local regulations? Senate President Stuart Adams, a developer by profession, noted:
over-subsidizing housing “actually create(s) more demand, which makes prices rise.” So the solution, he said, is to rely “on the free market” while also upping inventory to relieve demand pressures, whether that’s letting more people rent out their basements or helping developers get their subdivisions approved faster.
“Trying to streamline the regulatory process, I support. Trying to reduce the regulations, I support. And it sounds to me like the public’s really keyed in on that,”
Read the entire story on the poll at https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/4/21/23032120/housing-market-utah-prices-rent-control-free-market-solutions-predictions
The second shot, and a big blow, was the announcement by Rep. Steve Waldrip that he’s withdrawing from his re-election bid to his Utah House seat. Waldrip has become the go-to guy the last couple of years in the legislature on land use legislation, having been the primary sponsor of housing and land use bills. Steve, a former planning commissioner in Weber County, really took the time to learn about land use issues and potential solutions. He was also serving as co-chair of the Commission on Housing Affordability. His stated reason for pulling out of the race is that he thinks he can be more effective on the housing issue
“because I have a unique opportunity over the next few years to make a significant impact in housing availability and affordability with the social benefit investment fund I co-founded. The Rocky Mountain Homes Fund addresses a huge need in our state and will require all of my time and attention to manage and direct the current and projected growth,”
But I can’t help but think another factor was the primary battle he was facing from candidates who were attacking him on his moderate positions on several issues, including on housing. From one of his opponents:
Among other things, (Kyle) cited the incumbent’s apparent support for measures that promote high-density housing.
Steve will be sorely missed! You can read the sad news here https://www.standard.net/news/local/2022/apr/21/waldrip-drops-out-2-gopers-remain-in-race-for-district-8-utah-house-post/