Virginia streamlines process for churches to build affordable housing on property
Virginia has passed a law making it easier for churches to get approval to build affordable housing on their properties.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 388 on Wednesday. The measure streamlines the process for religious organizations to build housing and is set to take effect July 1.
SB 388 allows “property tax-exempt religious organizations” to develop housing “by right,” rather than undergoing a lengthier approval process.
“The bill provides that the review of such developments be completed pursuant to general law and states that localities shall not require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, rezoning, or any discretionary review or approval process,” the summary explained.
“The bill requires that at least 60% of the housing development’s total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 30 years. The bill also provides that all such housing is subject to local real property taxation following completion, unless explicitly exempted by the locality.”
Sheila Herlihy Hennessee, director of Faith Organizing at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, which lobbied in support of the bill, welcomed its passage.
“The faith in housing bill is a huge step forward for Virginia,” Hennessee said in a statement emailed to The Christian Post. “It allows faith communities to live their mission and care for neighbors and is the most meaningful policy addressing the housing shortage to pass this year.
“We look forward to working with more congregations that are considering developing housing and seeing a clearer roadmap for them to succeed.”
The legislation was introduced by state Sen. Jeremy McPike, a Democrat. After passing the General Assembly in March, Spanberger sent the bill back to lawmakers with a list of assorted recommended changes to the text.
Earlier this week, the state Senate voted 21-18 to concur with the governor’s recommendations, while the House of Delegates voted 62-36 to do the same.
The legislation was not without critics. The Virginia Association of Counties issued a statement last month arguing that SB 388 and its companion House Bill 1279 “override local decision-making authority.”
“By-right development of residential and mixed-use development on any property, regardless of its location and access to adequate publicly funded facilities such as water, sewer, and roads, is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of sound land use policy and practice,” the association stated.
“Virginia Code requires that all … zoning regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of buildings and uses throughout each district (2-2282. Regulations to be uniform). This legislation upends this longstanding legal land use principle by granting different rights to properties of the same zoning classification based on ownership.”
