Governor Cox correctly identifies Utah’s housing affordability crisis as urgent and real. When working professionals cannot afford to live in the communities they serve, when young adults must choose between homeownership and staying near family, we have a problem that demands action. But the governor’s proposed statewide zoning preemption, as outlined in the recent article “Utah governor floats statewide zoning takeover as option to jump-start housing supply,” is the wrong approach.
When Washington tries to override Utah’s authority, we rightly resist because distant officials cannot understand local conditions. This same logic applies when the state considers overriding local communities. Each city faces unique challenges requiring tailored solutions, not one-size-fits-all mandates.
Instead of overriding local decisions, the state should focus on providing resources and incentives and push our congressional delegation to advance solutions like Senator Lee’s HOUSES Act, which puts underutilized federal land to productive use.
Utah built its reputation on limited government and market solutions. We succeeded by trusting communities to solve problems with minimal government interference. When Utah fights federal overreach but considers state overreach of municipalities, we abandon the very principles that made us strong.
Let us solve this crisis through local innovation and market freedom, not top-down mandates.
Lance Haynie
Santa Clara