PRINTER'S NO. 2881
No. 235 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY LASHINGER, ANGSTADT, BUSH, FARMER, J. TAYLOR,
GODSHALL, NAHILL, DEMPSEY, ARGALL, HERSHEY, REBER, GRUPPO,
CESSAR, BUNT, WESTON, RAYMOND, GLADECK, MERRY, CLYMER,
DIETTERICK, SERAFINI, JADLOWIEC, MARSICO, FAIRCHILD, BLACK,
GEIST, NAILOR, JOHNSON, SCHULER, FOX, E. Z. TAYLOR, HERMAN,
J. L. WRIGHT, D. W. SNYDER, J. H. CLARK, DISTLER, GANNON,
PHILLIPS, NOYE, McVERRY, PERZEL, CORNELL, FOSTER, TRELLO,
TELEK, DAVIES, ROBBINS, WILSON, WASS, ADOLPH, HESS AND
KONDRICH, DECEMBER 6, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, DECEMBER 6, 1989
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Local Government Commission to conduct
2 investigations into certain matters affecting local housing
3 for low-income and middle-income families.
4 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is currently facing an affordable
5 housing crisis; and
6 WHEREAS, This crisis affects both sales and rental housing
7 for all economic levels, including low-income and middle-income
8 individuals and families; and
9 WHEREAS, In an effort to address legislative solutions to
10 this crisis, the Republican Policy Committee recently conducted
11 two bipartisan affordable housing forums at the University of
12 Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania; and
13 WHEREAS, Housing experts throughout Pennsylvania testified at
14 these forums; and
15 WHEREAS, These housing experts testified that two major
1 causes of the high price of sales and rental housing which
2 currently exists in Pennsylvania results from unnecessary delays
3 in builders receiving approvals and permits from State and local
4 agencies, including the Department of Environmental Resources,
5 and restrictive and discriminatory municipal zoning ordinances
6 which prevent the construction of affordable sales and rental
7 housing through unreasonable density requirements; therefore be
8 it
9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Local
10 Government Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into:
11 (1) the effect that delays in builders in Pennsylvania
12 receiving required permits and approvals from State and local
13 agencies have on the construction of affordable housing; and
14 (2) the extent to which municipal zoning ordinances in
15 Pennsylvania currently impede the construction of affordable
16 housing, including the development and expansion of
17 manufactured housing on single lots as well as in
18 manufactured housing parks;
19 and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Local Government Commission report its
21 findings to the House of Representatives within six months; and
22 be it further
23 RESOLVED, That if it is found that delays in State and local
24 approvals of housing construction plans are contributing
25 significantly to the increased costs of sales and rental
26 housing, the report shall contain recommendations for
27 legislation to expedite the approval process at both the State
28 and the local level; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That, if it is found that municipal zoning
30 ordinances do presently restrict the construction of affordable
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1 sales and rental housing, including manufactured housing, the
2 report shall contain recommendations for legislation to mandate
3 changes in local zoning ordinances to allow for the construction
4 of more affordable housing in Pennsylvania, including
5 consideration of the withholding of all State funds due any
6 municipality with a discriminatory zoning ordinance designed to
7 limit the construction of affordable housing.
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