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CITY ISSUE FACT SHEET: ZONING AND LAND USE <br />Protecting Cities’ Zoning and <br />Land Use Authority <br />Legislation has been introduced that would <br />undermine the abilities of city officials and their <br />residents to make their own decisions about zoning <br />and land use. The “Missing Middle Housing” bill, HF <br />4009, SF 3964, and SF 3980, increases housing <br />density and take away cities’ rights to make <br />zoning and land use decisions that best fit their <br />communities’ needs. <br />WHAT’S IN THE BILL: <br />• Forces administrative approvals of projects that meet <br />standards and prohibits public input in the approval <br />process. <br />• Limits minimum lot size requirements to no greater <br />than 2,500 square feet for first class cities and 4,000 <br />square feet for all other cities except for cities with <br />populations less than 10,000. <br />• Requires all cities to accept Accessory Dwelling Units <br />on all residential lots regardless of size and allows <br />property owners to subdivide their lots by right. <br />• Sets a base level for density allowed on any <br />residential lot by right—regardless of size—at 2 units <br />statewide and 4 units in first class cities. <br />2024 <br />March 4, 2024 <br />Potential Consequences <br />of “Missing Middle <br />Housing” Bill: <br />• No financial support is provided <br />for infrastructure upgrades/ <br />expansions needed for increased <br />density, shifting the costs on <br />taxpayers. <br />• Residents would no longer be <br />able to voice concerns regarding <br />developments at public <br />hearings. <br />• Cities may need to buy <br />new equipment and resize <br />infrastructure if new residential <br />buildings are taller than what <br />their existing infrastructure can <br />handle. <br />• Solar panels on homes and <br />businesses may be blocked by <br />buildings as tall as 150 feet.