Gov. Meyer signs executive order to streamline affordable housing

In one of his first days as Delaware’s new governor, Matt Meyer signed an executive order Thursday night to fast-track affordable housing permits. 

“Housing is a human right, and no Delawarean should be left out in the cold,” Meyer said in a social media post regarding his decision. “With this Executive Order, we take the first step in overhauling and streamlining the permitting process for building workforce and affordable housing across Delaware.”

The order authorizes the creation of a working group to review, provide recommendations, and develop a plan to develop a “one-stop shop” for projects in all three counties to make the process of permits and licenses in state and local governments easier.

This is meant to enhance collaboration, predictability, public awareness, and efficiency for projects that will increase the stock of affordable housing.

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Affordable housing work group

The 16-person group will include leaders from housing and transportation agencies, county executives, environmental and developmental experts, and legislative representatives. 

It will have its first meeting in February, and will do the following:

1. Consider the feasibility of a “one-stop shop” to serve projects in all three counties to streamline permits and licenses in both state and local governments
2. A review of the rules and regulations that impact housing, permitting, and construction
3. Identify any processes that can be streamlined, deferred, or eliminated
4. Identify any concerns regarding environmental justice, as well as cultural, archaeological, or historic impacts
5. Identify best state and local practices on the issue of streamlined permit and license processes, particularly when several agencies are housed in one physical space and/or online
6. Take into consideration the findings of the Affordable Housing Production Task Force when its report is released in March
7. Consider the role of the existing Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) process, including whether or not it can be leveraged to improve permit streamlining.

By April 25, the group will have to submit a report to the governor with a long list of information, notably recommendations on how to launch a physical or virtual one-stop-shop to streamline the permit process and what that will entail; rules and regulations that impact affordable housing development and permits; and a timeline to implement their recommendations.

Meyer said this executive order delivers on his core campaign tenet to address Delaware’s affordable housing crisis quickly and efficiently, bringing the weight of state government to bear on one of the most critical issues facing the state today.

“Together, we’ll work to ensure all Delawareans have a chance to thrive in their own homes,” Meyer stated.