BOTTOM LINE: SB1117 seeks to remove the voice of citizens in the planning and development process. The bill also guarantees "by right" additional entitlements--like building heights up to 80 feet--without any input or challenge from citizens. It also seeks to remove overview and approval by any municipality as it relates to housing, planning and zoning.
Please contact your Senator today and tell them to vote NO on SB1117. We will tell you how. ACTION IS REQUIRED TODAY and we've made it very easy. More info below.
Why is it so bad? About the bill:
There are a lot of moving parts. Here are some of the egregious concepts in this bill:
mandates approval of multi-family projects without allowing residents to work with the developer to ensure that it meets the needs of the surrounding community
circumvents public processes and general plans that the residents develop, and places all the power in the developers’ hands
allows multi-family developments “by right” in any existing commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family zoning districts
allows multi-family buildings up to 60 ft or the highest allowable height within one mile
projects within two miles of a rail stop can be up to 80 feet in height. This would be most of North Central.
allows developers to ignore zoning districts, zoning codes, design standards, and parking requirements
provides residents zero notice and no opportunity to learn about the project or provide comments
removes Planning Commissions from the process
strips local councils of their zoning authority
At the time of this email, only about 25 people were in support of the bill. They are almost all developers. Some 225 oppose the bill, including: the City of Phoenix; Arizona League of Cities and Towns; City of Scottsdale; City of Glendale; City of Tempe; City of Gilbert; City of Chandler.
THIS IS A CALL FOR ACTION! It will take you less than 10 minutes.Here's what we're asking you to do:
1. Identify your state Senator and locate their email address
2. Draft your email. We've provided you with a simple sample, below.
3. SEND TODAY. Yes, TODAY. This thing is RACING through the Senate.
4. SHARE with your networks.
HERE'S THE SAMPLE EMAIL to your Senator--
Senator:
As a concerned citizen of the State of Arizona, I ask that you vote "NO" on SB1117 on housing and infrastructure.
This bill removes the rights of citizens to be a participant in the planning process and removes any oversight by our elected representatives and their staffs in our municipalities.
The housing shortage is everyone's problem. Stifling the voice of citizens--as this bill provides--does not solve the problem and will likely exacerbate it.
Please vote NO on SB1117.
Thank you.
Right now, we are focused on the Senate; the Arizona House will come later.
INFO about the bill and your legislators
SB1117 Housing; Infrastructure/ Click here to read the amendment
SB1117 legislative memo (attached)
Video for the first Senate hearing
To determine who your state legislators are, click here
Here is roster of the AZ state senators: Use azleg.gov after their name. For example, LALSTON@azleg.gov
How do I find or contact my Legislator?
If you know your legislators, click here for email addresses
If you do not know your legislators:
Click here to find the legislative district you live in by entering your address and zip code located at the upper left corner.When you click on this link you are leaving the Arizona State Legislature website and being redirected to the website for the Redistricting Committee. We have no control over their website.
After you find your district, return to this page and click here. Find the district you are looking for to identify your legislators.
Note: No. Central underwent a redistricting and we are now in District 5. Our senator is Lela Alstone (LALSTON@azleg.gov); our House representatives are Jennifer Longdon (JLONGDON@azleg.gov) and Amish Shah (ASHAH@azleg.gov).
PLEASE: ACT NOW! Collectively, we defeated a similar bill last year. Only with widespread constituent outrage can we do it again.
Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading.
The North Central Phoenix Homeowners Association (info@ncpha.org)
Neal Haddad, Neighborhood Coalition of Greater Phoenix
neal.haddad@gmail.com