Yesterday, the House unanimously passed HB168, a bill that GOPC is championing as a means to encourage brownfields redevelopment through regulatory reform. HB168 establishes an affirmative defense for purchasers of contaminated properties.
Pro-Sprawl bill amended into House version of Operating Budget
The enactment of the so-called Affordable Homebuilding and Housing Act will subsidize unnecessary urban and suburban sprawl and fuel economically and environmentally unsustainable development across the state of Ohio. At a time when the state has an abundant supply of available housing and the lowest rate of population growth in thirty years, it simply does not make sense to incentivize this dangerous build-up at the expense of local governments. It is for this reason that GOPC opposes these provisions and is urging lawmakers to reject this cookie-cutter policy and leave such decisions up to local policy makers.
GOPC Testifies before Senate Finance Committee for Operating Budget Priorities
I wish to draw the committees attention to five issues which either are currently a part of HB166 or which GOPC believes should be addressed as part of HB 166. We believe that these recommendations build on Ohio’s recent success by recognizing potential, leveraging momentum, connecting people to places, and reviving our most important assets to ensure a Greater Ohio.
Join the Cleveland Fed at the Policy Summit this June
VAPAC Contributes to Cuyahoga County Revitalization for over 14 years
Cleveland Heights recognized with 2018 best Complete Streets policy
Ohio House overwhelmingly approves budget plan, Ohio Senate debate now underway
The Ohio House gave final approval yesterday to a nearly $69 billion two year budget plan. House Bill 166 is now before the Ohio Senate, where lawmakers have been conducting informal hearings on the budget since late April. The final budget agreement must be approved and submitted to Governor DeWine by June 30 and will take effect on July 1, when the new state fiscal year is set to begin.
MORPC Corridor Report Calls for Denser Development, Investments in Transit
Last week, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) released the Corridor Concepts Scenario report. The report concludes that the Columbus region could accommodate more than half of its predicted population growth into five major corridors through denser development and coordinated investments in improved transit.
Update on Opportunity Zones – US Treasury releases second round of proposed guidelines & State of Ohio promotes Opportunity Zones through showcase portal
Last month, the Treasury Department issued its second round of proposed Opportunity Zones guidelines. These guidelines follow an initial round issued by the Treasury Department in October 2018. Both sets of guidelines aim to answer questions raised regarding investments in Qualified Opportunity Zones through Qualified Opportunity Funds.