Local Officials Rally Against State Housing Bills at Lansing Hearing
Bipartisan group of mayors and township supervisors challenge state housing bills they say would strip local zoning control at Thursday hearing.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — A bipartisan group of local elected officials voiced strong opposition Thursday to a package of state housing bills they argue would strip away local zoning control, despite the legislation’s support from lawmakers in both parties.
The Michigan House Government Operations Committee hearing featured testimony on the Housing Readiness Plan, a collection of bills introduced in February aimed at addressing housing costs and supply through updated state zoning laws.
State Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids), one of the package’s leaders, defended the legislation as “focused on the fact that housing has become too expensive.”
Housing Costs Drive Legislative Action
“Some of that has to do with the requirements to build the largest cost in a building project continue to rise. The cost of land keeps increasing, the cost of materials keeps increasing, and the amount of time that it takes for a project to be approved or denied has increased. In too many cases, a small number of voices can stop housing opportunities for entire communities,” Grant said during Thursday’s hearing.
“This package directly addresses those barriers. We are not looking to eliminate zoning law as a whole. We are not looking to remove local voices. These bills are very intentional about the key issues that they hone in on,” she added.
Local Leaders Push Back
Following the legislative hearing, members of the Michigan Municipal League held a press conference to dispute the characterization of the bills. The local officials argued that the legislation preempts local authority and diminishes citizen input in development decisions.
Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem spoke out against the package, joined by Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano and Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson. The trio represented the bipartisan coalition of local leaders opposing the state-level housing reforms.
The opposition from local officials highlights the tension between state lawmakers seeking to address Michigan’s housing affordability crisis and municipal leaders who want to maintain local control over zoning and development decisions.
The Housing Readiness Plan represents a bipartisan effort in Lansing to tackle housing supply issues that have contributed to rising costs across Michigan. However, the pushback from local elected officials suggests the legislation may face continued resistance as it moves through the legislative process.
