Missoula County opposes HB 259: Revise property and zoning laws, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Local Government Committee.
HB 259 would ban inclusionary zoning in Montana. Missoula County does not have an inclusionary zoning ordinance, but with housing prices escalating the way they are, we may have to consider it in the future.
According to the Missoula Organization of Realtor’s 2020 annual report, the median home price in the Missoula market at the start of the 66th Legislative Session was $268,250. At the start of the 67th Legislative Session that price was up to $315,000, an increase of over $46,000. Today, the median family income needed to purchase the median priced home with a 5% down payment is over $98,000 per year, out of reach of many Missoula families.
We hope Missoula County’s strategy to increase housing supply will turn the tide of the affordable housing crisis, but the market forces might prove too much despite all our efforts. Most of the affordable housing tools that are available to the county are from state and federal sources. Those funding sources are becoming harder to secure. Inclusionary zoning is not a tool that Missoula County is currently using, and we are not at the point where it is our primary option, but Montana cities and counties need more tools to address our housing challenges, not fewer.
Missoula County opposes HB 259, Revise property and zoning laws, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB 259 would ban inclusionary zoning in Montana. Missoula County does not have an inclusionary zoning ordinance, but with housing prices escalating the way they are, we may have to consider it in the future.
According to the Missoula Organization of Realtor’s 2020 annual report, the median home price in the Missoula market at the start of the 66th Legislative Session was $268,250. At the start of the 67th Legislative Session that price was up to $315,000, an increase of over $46,000. Today, the median family income needed to purchase the median priced home with a 5% down payment is over $98,000 per year, out of reach of many Missoula families.
We hope Missoula County’s strategy to increase housing supply will turn the tide of the affordable housing crisis, but the market forces might prove too much despite all our efforts. Most of the affordable housing tools that are available to the county are from state and federal sources. Those funding sources are becoming harder to secure. Inclusionary zoning is not a tool that Missoula County is currently using, and we are not at the point where it is our primary option, but Montana cities and counties need more tools to address our housing challenges, not fewer.
Sent Feb. 2:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Thane and Whitman,
Missoula County opposes HB 259: Revise property and zoning laws, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Local Government Committee.
HB 259 would ban inclusionary zoning in Montana. Missoula County does not have an inclusionary zoning ordinance, but with housing prices escalating the way they are, we may have to consider it in the future.
According to the Missoula Organization of Realtor’s 2020 annual report, the median home price in the Missoula market at the start of the 66th Legislative Session was $268,250. At the start of the 67th Legislative Session that price was up to $315,000, an increase of over $46,000. Today, the median family income needed to purchase the median priced home with a 5% down payment is over $98,000 per year, out of reach of many Missoula families.
We hope Missoula County’s strategy to increase housing supply will turn the tide of the affordable housing crisis, but the market forces might prove too much despite all our efforts. Most of the affordable housing tools that are available to the county are from state and federal sources. Those funding sources are becoming harder to secure. Inclusionary zoning is not a tool that Missoula County is currently using, and we are not at the point where it is our primary option, but Montana cities and counties need more tools to address our housing challenges, not fewer.
Please oppose HB 259.
Sent March 12:
ReplyDeleteSenators Boldman and Morigeau,
Missoula County opposes HB 259, Revise property and zoning laws, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB 259 would ban inclusionary zoning in Montana. Missoula County does not have an inclusionary zoning ordinance, but with housing prices escalating the way they are, we may have to consider it in the future.
According to the Missoula Organization of Realtor’s 2020 annual report, the median home price in the Missoula market at the start of the 66th Legislative Session was $268,250. At the start of the 67th Legislative Session that price was up to $315,000, an increase of over $46,000. Today, the median family income needed to purchase the median priced home with a 5% down payment is over $98,000 per year, out of reach of many Missoula families.
We hope Missoula County’s strategy to increase housing supply will turn the tide of the affordable housing crisis, but the market forces might prove too much despite all our efforts. Most of the affordable housing tools that are available to the county are from state and federal sources. Those funding sources are becoming harder to secure. Inclusionary zoning is not a tool that Missoula County is currently using, and we are not at the point where it is our primary option, but Montana cities and counties need more tools to address our housing challenges, not fewer.
Please oppose HB 259.