I listened to the meeting yesterday of the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission, which I have noted seems to be the de facto state body that looks at and considers the state’s growth and attendant impacts.  This is actually a pretty good body to have these discussions as the Commission is chaired by the Governor, with legislative leadership and committee chairs, state department heads, and local elected officials sitting on it.

Yesterday’s meeting was true to form, with considerable discussion about affordable housing, incentives for retail in community development project areas and the need to include housing, a state-led effort to have a conversation with residents statewide on growth and quality of life, and other things.

Sen. Jake Anderegg, co-chair of the Commission on Housing Affordability, made some remarkable comments about how leaving local governments to deal with growth impacts may not be the best way to deal with the issues presented by strong growth, and some of the proposals that are being considered for legislative action this upcoming session to deal with housing affordability.  Rep. Steve Waldrip, the other CHA co-chair, talked about things like housing regional fair share (most famously institutionalized with the Mount Laurel (NJ) court rulings in 1975 and 1983) and tying state infrastructure funding to conformance with state growth policies (ala 1990s Smart Growth programs in other states), which in my experience is pretty remarkable coming from a conservative state legislator.

State Planning Coordinator Laura Hanson then talked about the plans for holding a statewide Conversation About Growth with the state’s residents and some other initiatives, for which the Governor’s budget includes about $1 million for the coming year.  More on this later.

Take a listen to the Commission meeting discussion here, starting at about minute 40.  It’s truly gratifying that these issues are being discussed at the highest levels of state policy making.