North Carolina Democrats are pushing two separate bills to address the state's affordable housing shortage by removing construction roadblocks. Sen. Woodson Bradley filed the "Let Them Build Act" Thursday, which targets environmental review processes that currently slow down building projects. The measure aims to streamline approvals without eliminating environmental protections.
Bradley's bill arrives days after House Democrats filed "Relieving Housing Bottlenecks," another comprehensive housing reform proposal. Both efforts reflect growing frustration among Democratic lawmakers over delays in residential development caused by lengthy regulatory processes.
The environmental review streamlining would allow developers to move projects forward faster, potentially increasing housing supply and bringing down costs. By reducing review timelines, the state could accelerate residential construction across multiple markets.
North Carolina faces a documented affordable housing crisis, with demand outpacing supply in major metros like Charlotte and Raleigh. Faster permitting and environmental approvals could unlock thousands of units currently stalled in the pipeline.
The dual approach suggests Democrats view construction barriers as multi-faceted. While Bradley targets environmental reviews, the House bill addresses broader bottlenecks. Together, the proposals signal lawmakers' commitment to using policy tools to boost housing availability.