Neighbors rally for and against Arizona bill to allow churches to build homes

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Demonstrators stood outside the Arizona State Capitol to express their support for a new bill that would allow churches to build affordable apartments on their properties.

Known as the “Yes, In God’s Backyard”Act,” HB 2191 would loosen zoning codes and allow churches to bypass public comment periods to move forward with developments.

“Regulations as they exist now make it so difficult. There are many hoops to jump through and it takes so much time,” said supporter Barbra Quijada.

However, some people in a north Phoenix neighborhood argue that this bill would leave people voiceless.

“Basically, things are just going to happen, and we will just have to live with it, and we don’t like that. We think it’s very anti-democratic,” said one neighbor.

The group says a Catholic church near 40th Street and Shea Boulevard has been trying to build housing on its empty lot for years. Neighbors say they reached a compromise with the church on low-density housing but fear it could change if HB 2191 passes.

The bill has a list of rules on height, parking and setbacks that developers must follow, but by design, they are looser than current city zoning limits.

Church members and neighbors hope there will be a compromise as it continues through the Legislature. The bill has not yet come up for a full vote in the House, but it is working its way through committees.

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