A Phoenix lawmaker is attempting to salvage at least part of his controversial plan to override local zoning rules in the name of affordable housing after it was overwhelmingly rejected because of opposition from cities and towns.

The Senate killed a bill with some bipartisan opposition– and a hint of bipartisan support– on Monday that would have drastically cut down on zoning restrictions statewide in the sponsor’s hopes of increasing Arizona’s affordable housing supply. 

A Senate committee passed legislation on Feb. 8 to drastically reduce zoning regulations on housing, despite opposition from municipalities that want to retain the power to make zoning decisions themselves.  

The chairman of the Housing Supply Study Committee is proposing to alter zoning laws and permanently fund the Housing Trust Fund to create more affordable housing in the state.

Republicans and Democrats want to address housing in the upcoming legislative session, and some of their proposals overlap.  

After spending more than a year wondering if a legal and zoning complaint would end the mission of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC), it appears we are on the road to recovery.

Maricopa County supervisors changed county zoning rules to disallow medical-marijuana dispensaries or cultivation sites on county land unless pot becomes a federally approved drug.

As a volunteer police officer in this northwestern Arizona city, Harley Pettit saw young people get in trouble for everything from drugs and alcohol to vandalism. In a small community with not a lot to do, he said, the last thing young people need is another way to get into trouble.

He’s worried that’s exactly what medical marijuana will give them.

The Flagstaff City Council sent its staff back to the drawing board to craft a proposal to restrict where medical marijuana dispensaries could open in the city.

For the past four years, a group of people have been meeting with Maricopa County Planning and Development staff members behind closed doors to amend a zoning ordinance that will affect properties countywide. The issue will go before the County Board of Supervisors for a vote on Aug. 19, yet property owners know little of its existence.