Virginia localities would create housing districts near major transit

Localities would have to create one or more housing districts in qualifying areas. This would apply to Virginia counties, cities, and towns that contain at least one major transit stop or transit corridor. The printed text gives conflicting bracketed versions of the distance from transit and the housing allowed in each district, so those details cannot be stated with confidence.

Localities would approve qualifying housing applications that meet their objective standards without a public hearing. This would apply to housing applications within an overlay district that meet the locality's objective standards. Localities could set objective rules for building height, lot coverage, setbacks, stormwater, fire access, and parking, but those rules could not block at least 10 homes per lot or homes of at least 800 square feet each.

Localities could exclude certain parcels and require steps to limit displacement. These provisions would apply to parcels within an overlay district. The exclusions cover historic districts, designated floodways, prime agricultural soils, local critical environmental areas, and parcels without adequate public water and sewer. A locality could also exclude a parcel for unreasonably adverse impact if its board of zoning appeals affirms the decision; that decision could be appealed to circuit court. Localities could require affordable housing, relocation help, or other anti-displacement measures.

Localities with an ordinance would report approved lots and homes each year, and the state housing department would publish a statewide report. The Department of Housing and Community Development would publish the statewide report after collecting three years of local data. The section would expire on July 1 or September 1, 2030; the printed text does not make the date clear.