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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 178
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study development and land use tools in Virginia's localities. Report.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 5, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, March 4, 2008

 

WHEREAS, the 2007 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, as part of its Transportation Financing Package, directed that most new development in the Commonwealth occur in Urban Development Areas so that growth can occur in a more orderly fashion in areas where the necessary infrastructure has either been built or can be built in a more efficient manner; and

WHEREAS, the concentration of development into Urban Development Areas will reduce urban sprawl, reduce the cost of upgrading Virginia's transportation networks, and reduce the environmental impact of a rapidly growing Virginia population; and

WHEREAS, in 2007 Virginia required its localities to include Urban Development Areas within their comprehensive plan updates by 2011; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to monitor the transition of most new development to Urban Development Areas and may need to propose additional legislation as such transition to Urban Development Areas progresses; and

WHEREAS, in addition to Urban Development Areas, there are a variety of additional land use planning tools and infrastructure financing options available to localities; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to take a comprehensive look at the various land use planning tools and infrastructure financing options, both new and old, and make appropriate recommendations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study development and land use tools in Virginia's localities. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members that shall consist of eight legislative members and two ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Secretary of Transportation or their designees shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine and monitor the transition to channeling development into Urban Development Areas, and determine if additional legislation is needed to help localities as they transition to Urban Development Areas. The joint subcommittee shall also make a comprehensive evaluation of all existing land use planning tools and infrastructure financing options and make any recommendations deemed appropriate.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Community Development. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2008 interim and four meetings for the 2009 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,000 for each year without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2008, and for the second year by November 30, 2009, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2008 or 2009 interim.