The nationwide movement against regulatory barriers to building housing has reached Albany. For the first time since a catastrophic attempt at reform in 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation that would speed up the approval of new housing developments.
Last time, Hochul proposed to override localities’ much-coveted powers to enact their own zoning laws restricting new housing. Those powers remain sacrosanct in her new proposal. Instead, Hochul is proposing reforms to the state’s environmental-review requirements.
If passed, these changes would mean communities that want new housing would be able to get it faster, and with less administrative expense. The only question is whether the state legislature will play along…