Virginia lawmakers worked this session to address high housing costs.
Nearly eight in 10 cost-burdened renters in Virginia spend more than 30% of their income on rent, which qualifies them as extremely low-income, according to federal standards. The state has 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 households in need, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Gap Report.
Zoning
House Bill 594, introduced by Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, allows districts to streamline zoning approvals for developments with 75% of their units designated for lower-income households. Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the bill, which passed with bipartisan support, on April 8.
The bill grants localities and their zoning administrators the authority to approve rezoning, rather than the city planning commission or elected board. To be approved, projects must comply with Virginia Fair Housing Law, have access to public water and the sewage system and be located in or near areas that can support increased density…