This bill proposes several updates to current statutes regarding municipal zoning for multifamily residential development and adaptive reuse of commercial properties. Under the new provisions, municipalities with populations of 150,000 or more will be required to establish objective standards for multifamily residential development or adaptive reuse of existing commercial, office, or mixed-use parcels within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The bill allows for the development or reuse of at least 10% of these parcels, rather than limiting it to no more than 10% of existing buildings. Additionally, municipalities will be prohibited from designating individual parcels for development or excluding parcels from development based on sound levels below 65 decibels.

The bill also modifies definitions and requirements related to multifamily residential developments and adaptive reuse projects. It specifies that setback requirements must align with existing zoning codes and that maximum height and density must be equal to the highest allowable for multifamily districts or other residential zoning. Furthermore, the definitions of low-income and moderate-income housing will be amended to remove references to rent or mortgage payments being capped at 30% of gross income. The bill also clarifies that existing structures can retain their height if it exceeds the new maximum allowable height for the proposed multifamily use. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the process for municipalities to facilitate multifamily housing development while ensuring certain standards are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-462.10
House Engrossed Version: 9-462.10
Chaptered Version: 9-462.10