Recognizing that “the slowness and uncertainty of securing permits and regulatory approval from state agencies can impair the viability of affordable housing development, make such development more expensive, and can jeopardize federal and other monies,” Rhode Island has authorized developers of affordable housing to request that a project be classified as a project of critical housing concern. The request must contain a description of how the project is consistent with applicable provisions of state plans. If the state determines the project is a housing project of critical concern, a certificate is issued. The developer will then file the certificate with the various state agencies that have permitting authority over the project. Specific deadlines are included for state action; and the housing resources commission is tasked with rule-making authority to implement this new law.
2008 New Laws, S.B. No. 2109 and H.B. No. 7460
The text of the bills are available at:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText08/SenateText08/S2109.pdf
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText08/HouseText08/H7460.pdf
The bill status can be viewed at: http://dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStatus/WebClass1.ASP?WCI=BillStatus&WCE=ifrmBillStatus&WCU
For an article that addresses affordable housing for low-income seniors, click here.
Thanks to Lora Lucero, Esq. for sharing this from the American Planning Association’s Planning and Environmental Law. See, http://www.planning.org/pel
