Montana housing task force unveils recommendations for regulatory changes

HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte’s housing job power launched again in July. Now, after 5 months and dozens of conferences, they’ve wrapped up their work – releasing a second set of suggestions for addressing Montana’s housing scarcity.

Chris Dorrington, director of the Montana Division of Environmental High quality and chair of the duty power, mentioned he was happy with all the course of.

“I don’t assume it may have been a lot better, from the variable stakeholders and the bipartisan curiosity,” he mentioned. “I couldn’t be extra pleased with what we achieved.”

The duty power put out its Part II report final week. At their remaining assembly Monday afternoon, Gianforte praised their work.

“I used to be very impressed,” he mentioned. “You got here up with some very revolutionary concepts – I feel lots of them we’re going to have the ability to act on.”

The duty power’s first report (https://www.ktvh.com/information/gianfortes-housing-task-force-begins-second-phase-of-work), launched in October, targeted on proposals that the state legislature may approve and the governor may signal into regulation. The second report lays out options for regulatory modifications that state businesses and native governments could make, typically with out altering state regulation.

The 18 new suggestions are a part of three general methods: addressing regulators’ effectivity and capability, gathering up to date info and investing sources to assist development and the workforce. A number of the objectives embrace “streamlining” the allow course of for brand spanking new housing developments, figuring out methods to scale back or share the prices of development and serving to native governments implement new zoning and regulatory practices.

DEQ, which is liable for subdivision allowing, is among the important businesses the duty power urged to enhance its effectivity. Dorrington mentioned his division has already labored on bringing in and retaining workers, utilizing know-how higher and enhancing their processes, and he believes they’ll nonetheless do extra.

“What I do not need individuals to overlook is our job can be to guard Montana’s sources,” he mentioned. “So it isn’t nearly doing quick allowing, it is about doing sound, environmental allowing, on time and defensibly.”

The Montana Legislature is busy getting ready for its 2023 session – beginning in two weeks – the place housing can be an enormous subject. Dorrington mentioned about 200 invoice drafts on housing have already surfaced.

A number of the proposed payments are prone to embrace suggestions from the duty power’s first report. Rep. Danny Tenenbaum, D-Missoula, a job power member, mentioned lawmakers from each events are serious about carrying these payments.

“I actually hope this is a matter the place we will rise above our partisan divisions and work to finish this housing scarcity,” he mentioned.

One main thought is included in Gianforte’s funds proposal: utilizing $200 million to assist water and sewer infrastructure for brand spanking new housing developments – and tying that funding to native governments encouraging extra housing density.

“The use and utility of that to incentivize higher-density housing improvement goes to be highly effective,” Dorrington mentioned.

Whereas the duty power is ending its work, leaders stress that this isn’t the final alternative for individuals to have their say on these concepts.

“As you progress into the lawmaking course of, the general public is inspired to share their voice – lean in, share knowledge and actually information the options that come into that legislative course of,” mentioned Dorrington.