Jordan Lake is one of our area's most precious resources. Not only is it the home to thousands of animal species and a recreation site for camping, boating, and hiking, but it provides drinking water to nearly half a million NC residents.

But the NC House and Senate are considering a bill that could destroy Jordan Lake Watershed.

The NC Home Builders Association is pushing the Senate and House to pass SB 349, the so-called "Increase Housing Opportunities Act." But the bill does nothing to improve the affordability of housing.

Instead, all the bill does is take authority for zoning away from local governments and allow builders to overstuff land with duplexes, townhouses, and apartments. This reckless building will stress the watershed of Jordan Lake and other water sources like Falls Lake and Lake Norman beyond capacity, draining them dry. 

SB 349 will also put unbearable pressure on our already overcrowded schools, public services, and roads.

The bill doesn't ensure this new construction is "affordable," and townhouses in Apex already run in the high $300,000s. Instead it's just a giveaway to the corporate builders trying to deregulate building and take away our local rights to control our own growth. We elect our town and city councils specifically to deal with these issues, and they must be allowed to do so.

If the legislature really wants to increase affordable housing in North Carolina, it will provide grants, incentivize towns to build low-cost housing, and do more to improve already affordable areas of living in the entire state -- not give a blank check to builders.

That's why we're calling on our representatives to say NO to SB 349!