This week, Representatives Krisitan Grant (D-Grand Rapids) and Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.) announced the Housing Readiness Package, which aims to address Michigan’s housing shortage and high costs. The two lawmakers have been working on the proposal since last term and feel it’s a strong proposal to help address the housing crisis in Michigan.
The legislation would:
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- Allow duplexes in single-family residential zones that are in, or adjacent to, metropolitan areas.
- Prohibit minimum parking space requirements of more than one space per dwelling.
- Update the procedure for protesting zoning changes in a way that ensures broad community input by expanding the petition area radius and setting a 60% signature threshold.
- Define setback requirements in metropolitan areas at 15 feet from the front of the property line and five feet from the sides and rear (with exceptions for sensitive areas like marshes and waterways).
- Cap minimum dwelling size requirements at 500 square feet, making it easier to build smaller and more affordable starter homes and apartments in areas where larger parcels may not be abundant.
- Prohibit minimum lot size requirements of more than 2,500 square feet for single-family homes.
- Allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on parcels with single-family homes. The legislation also defines what constitutes an ADU, caps setback requirements, prohibits additional parking mandates, and allows the ADU to be built on- or off-site.
- Reduce delays by creating standards for local governments to follow when reviewing development requests. This will limit repeat or unnecessary study demands that drag out the process, set a 60-day timeline for decisions, and ensure site plans are approved if they meet all requirements.
Housing:
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- In 2005, there were approximately 54,000 new units on the market, while in 2024 that number was 15,000.
- Three decades ago, a person could buy a house for approximately two-to-three times the annual income. Today, a comparably sized house costs approximately six times the annual income.
