Minnesota’s housing crisis is pushing lawmakers to take another run at zoning reform. A bipartisan group has introduced bills that would make it easier to build duplexes, townhomes, and apartments by limiting city restrictions that developers say drive up costs. Local governments, however, worry about infrastructure strain and losing control over zoning decisions. With a divided Legislature, these bills will need broad support to move forward. Advocates say it’s a necessary step to lower housing costs—opponents warn of unintended consequences.
Why does this matter in North Dakota? Because we have a housing shortage, too. And we’d like to hope that all the solutions — including those that encroach on local control — should be on the table.
