Sharna Johnson
When Clovis voters head to the polls Tuesday, they will decide whether to
• give the city authority to reduce private developers’ permitting fees;
• donate city-owned property to private developers;
• give grants and loans to develop city-owned property in the downtown area;
• give grants for weatherization and rehabilitation of privately owned homes;
• and create a housing planning organization.
Both sides of the contentious issue agree those five points are at the core of the Affordable Housing (AH) Ordinance placed before city voters on a special election ballot.
Whether the AH ordinance will help or hinder Clovis’ quality of life is what voters must decide.
The election is the result of a petition filed by the High Plains Patriots — who say they are concerned with growing government — after the City Commission approved the ordinance.
City officials say the ordinance will better allow the city to stimulate development of housing and help create more available housing in the community, particularly for low-income residents.
Opponents say the ordinance is more bureaucracy that isn’t needed, giving the city — and the state — too much power over local development.
