A BILL FOR AN ACT
To lower the cost of housing
Be it enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Frémont
Section 1. Title
This legislation may be cited as the John Dule Affordable Housing Act.
Section 2. Regulatory reforms
1. All construction on categorized pre-developed lots shall be exempt from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses.
2. "Neighborhood character" and "social justice" shall not be considered legitimate private interest concerns when licensing new construction.
3. All state zoning laws that prohibit the integration of low-impact commercial buildings with residential apartments are hereby repealed.
4. All state height restrictions on buildings in urban centers are hereby repealed.
Section 3. Denial of permits
All jurisdictions in Frémont responsible for the permitting of construction shall be required to provide a valid justification for the denial of permission to construct residential buildings;
a) Environmental impact may be considered a valid justification if direct undue environmental damage can be demonstrated. Excessive sprawl caused by single unit residences may be considered a valid form of environmental damage. Tenants shall not be considered a form of pollution.
b) Unsafe building design or land that is unsafe for construction may be considered a valid justification.
c) Historical preservation may be considered a valid justification if the demolition of a building which is on the national register of historic places or is a UNESCO world heritage site is proposed, or if an overwhelming desire of the public to maintain a historic place can be demonstrated.
Section 4. Frémont Priority Project Program (FPPP)
1. All states in the Commonwealth of Frémont are hereby enrolled in the Frémont Priority Project Program (FPPP), and shall define the criteria that make a housing project eligible for priority processing. This criteria shall contain but not be limited to a higher percentage of affordable units, proximity to public transportation, or specific community benefits.
2. All states in the Commonwealth of Frémont shall appoint a team of licensed urban planners, reviewers, and inspectors to handle applications for priority housing projects. Each state board in the FPPP shall be tasked to engage with relevant authorities in pre-application meetings to address potential issues and ensure that the application is complete before formal submission. Each state board shall also be tasked with identifying and eliminating unnecessary paperwork and requirements.
3. All applications for expedited housing projects shall be approved or denied no longer than ninety (90) days after submission.
Section 5. Simultaneous Reviews
1. There shall be parallel reviews of any and all aspects of building projects, including but not limiting to zoning law compliance (provided that the criteria for existing zoning laws do not contradict this Act), environmental impact, and building code adherence.
2. Relevant housing authorities shall be tasked with identifying and eliminating unnecessary paperwork and requirements, focusing on essential information needed for the review process.
Section 6. Effectiveness
This act shall take effect ninety (90) days after passage.
Passed by the Frémont House of Commons 6-0-1-0Scott
Speaker of Parliament
Koopa D. Quick
First Minister
