Urban development areas; makes designation optional rather than mandatory for all localities. (SB274)

Introduced By

Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke) with support from co-patron Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Urban development areas.  Makes incorporation of urban development areas optional rather than mandatory. Any locality that has previously adopted urban development areas may, and upon voter petition shall, reconsider such action. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/10/2012Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12
01/10/2012Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12 12102399D
01/10/2012Referred to Committee on Local Government
01/31/2012Committee substitute printed 12104962D-S1
01/31/2012Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2012Incorporates SB291
02/02/2012Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2012Read second time
02/03/2012Reading of substitute waived
02/03/2012Committee substitute agreed to 12104962D-S1
02/03/2012Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB274S1
02/06/2012Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N) (see vote tally)
02/06/2012Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/06/2012Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2012Placed on Calendar
02/13/2012Read first time
02/13/2012Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
02/17/2012Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (20-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2012Read second time
02/21/2012Read third time
02/21/2012Passed House (74-Y 26-N)
02/21/2012VOTE: PASSAGE (74-Y 26-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2012Enrolled
02/23/2012Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB274ER)
02/23/2012Signed by President
02/23/2012Signed by Speaker
03/08/2012G Approved by Governor-Chapter 192 (effective 7/1/12)
03/08/2012G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 1 minute.

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB92 and HB794.

Comments

VHC Admin writes:

The Virginia Housing Coalition opposes this bill. UDAs are an important strategy in creating better development patterns that encourage mixed use and diverse neighborhoods as well as more compact development that saves money on infrastructure and preserves open space. UDAs help families save money and improve their quality of life by reducing commuting time and costs. UDAs should offer a range of housing choices to ensure that workers can live near their jobs.

Va Housing Coalition, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The Virginia Housing Coalition opposes this bill. UDAs are an important strategy in creating better development patterns that encourage mixed use and diverse neighborhoods as well as more compact development that saves money on infrastructure and preserves open space. UDAs help families save money and improve their quality of life by reducing commuting time and costs. UDAs should offer a range of housing choices to ensure that workers can live near their jobs.

Michael writes:

Sounds like the Virginia Housing Coalition, who will be getting paid for building the UDAs, but will not have to live with their effect on the community, objects to this bill.

Why not (as radical as this sounds) allow the people who live in a community decide for themselves what is in their own best interest - even if it means changing what was previously decided?