In a letter sent to President Biden, Gov. Joe Lombardo of Nevada reiterated his calls to streamline the process for releasing federal land in order to address the state’s housing crisis. With more than 80% of Nevada’s land owned by the federal government, Lombardo highlights the need for a more efficient approach to releasing land for development. The governor pointed to a recent Bureau of Land Management sale of 20 acres of public land to Clark County for affordable housing as a positive step, but emphasized that more needs to be done on a statewide level.
Lombardo also urged the president to direct the U.S. Department of Interior to complete an updated Resource Management Plan for the state. Several local economic development and municipality groups supported Lombardo’s concerns about the limited availability of developable land in Nevada.
The letter from Lombardo comes amidst a series of affordable housing-related moves by the Biden administration, including below-market land sales in Henderson and Southern Nevada, as well as federal grants for housing restoration and construction in Southern Nevada. However, the governor expressed skepticism about Biden’s proposal to cap rent increases for corporate landlords, raising concerns about its impact.
Overall, Lombardo’s letter underscores the urgent need for more accessible land for housing development in Nevada and calls for federal support to streamline the process. As the state continues to grapple with a housing crisis, it is clear that collaborative efforts between local and federal governments are crucial in addressing the issue.
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