LGC 17.1: Henry George Memorial Act for Liberation of Lincoln from NIMBYism - Passed

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Henry George Memorial Act for the Liberation of Lincoln from NIMBYism

Section I: New Housing Policies
1. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings with multiple units on land otherwise deemed suitable for residential development.
2. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings on land deemed suitable for commercial development with 1/2 mile of a fixed rail transit stop.
3. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings where 50% or more units are sold or rented below market rate on land deemed suitable for commercial development.
4. All jurisdictions in Lincoln responsible for the permitting of construction are expected to make a reasonable amount of land available for residential development and/or to allow upzoning such that a reasonable number of new housing units are constructed.
5. All jurisdictions in Lincoln 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.
   d) Local opposition to the construction of new housing shall not be considered a valid justification.
   e) The fact that a parcel of land is currently owned by a school, business, person, or similar, and that no relevant authority can afford to compensate them a fair market value for the land, may be a valid justification.
6. All jurisdictions in Lincoln responsible for the permitting of construction shall process applications for construction within a timely manner.
7. Residential buildings with 50% or more units sold or rented below market rate shall be eligible for expedited environmental review conducted by the region of Lincoln.
Section II: Litigation and Penalties
1. Any person, entity, or class which feels they have been impacted by a violation of Section 1 of this act shall be permitted to file a civil suit in the court system of Lincoln.
2. Plaintiffs may be awarded damages and legal fees from any jurisdiction found to be in violation of this act. In addition, such jurisdictions shall be fined up to the maximum amount which will not disrupt public services.
Section III: Revenue and Appropriation
1. A 1% annual tax shall be levied on the assessed value of land.
2. In addition to all fines collected under Section II.2 of this act, $20,000,000 shall be appropriated each year for the construction of social housing and homeless shelters.

Sponsor: Sirius
Chamber Sponsor: Dwarven Dragon
Occupying: Slot 1

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment:

d. 60%+ Llocal opposition to the construction of new housing as demonstrated by a referendum may be considered a valid justification. A general, unmeasured sentiment of local opposition shall not be considered a valid justification.

e. The fact that a parcel of land is currently owned by a school, business, person, or similar, and that no relevant authority can afford to compensate them a fair market value for the land, may be a valid justification.

[Sirius_]

I object to the amendment to d

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I’ll object on the governor’s behalf

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The addition of e. is adopted.

The question is on the amendment to d.

Aye

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Object to D

[Sirius_]

Object to D

Since the vote is open do you mean for this to be a nay vote?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Hopefully the Governor doesn't mind if I borrow part of this.

[Utah Neolib]

Nay

[Sirius_]

Hopefully the Governor doesn't mind if I borrow part of this.

Not at all!

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Object to D

Since the vote is open do you mean for this to be a nay vote?

Yes

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Nay

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment fails 1-3-0-1

[Sirius_]

To be clear I was fine with the amendment adding e. I'm not sure if the vote included that or not.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

To be clear I was fine with the amendment adding e. I'm not sure if the vote included that or not.

That portion was adopted by voice.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Motion for a final vote

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A final vote is beginning

Aye

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[Utah Neolib]

Aye

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

PASSES 4-0-0-1

Henry George Memorial Act for the Liberation of Lincoln from NIMBYism

Section I: New Housing Policies
1. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings with multiple units on land otherwise deemed suitable for residential development.
2. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings on land deemed suitable for commercial development with 1/2 mile of a fixed rail transit stop.
3. No jurisdiction shall prohibit the construction of residential buildings where 50% or more units are sold or rented below market rate on land deemed suitable for commercial development.
4. All jurisdictions in Lincoln responsible for the permitting of construction are expected to make a reasonable amount of land available for residential development and/or to allow upzoning such that a reasonable number of new housing units are constructed.
5. All jurisdictions in Lincoln 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.
   d) Local opposition to the construction of new housing shall not be considered a valid justification.
   e) The fact that a parcel of land is currently owned by a school, business, person, or similar, and that no relevant authority can afford to compensate them a fair market value for the land, may be a valid justification.
6. All jurisdictions in Lincoln responsible for the permitting of construction shall process applications for construction within a timely manner.
7. Residential buildings with 50% or more units sold or rented below market rate shall be eligible for expedited environmental review conducted by the region of Lincoln.
Section II: Litigation and Penalties
1. Any person, entity, or class which feels they have been impacted by a violation of Section 1 of this act shall be permitted to file a civil suit in the court system of Lincoln.
2. Plaintiffs may be awarded damages and legal fees from any jurisdiction found to be in violation of this act. In addition, such jurisdictions shall be fined up to the maximum amount which will not disrupt public services.
Section III: Revenue and Appropriation
1. A 1% annual tax shall be levied on the assessed value of land.
2. In addition to all fines collected under Section II.2 of this act, $20,000,000 shall be appropriated each year for the construction of social housing and homeless shelters.

Adam Griffin did not vote. This is his second consecutive final vote missed and he has been placed on the wall of shame.