TUSTEN, NY — Tusten officials plan to send a letter to Albany opposing the state’s proposed Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act.

A resident at a recent town board meeting asked supervisor Ben Johnson why Tusten had not signed a letter denouncing the bill, as other towns have done. Johnson said the letter came between full board meetings but was discussed at the board’s workshop. Johnson said they were inclined to oppose the law because “it challenges the home rule we have here” and contradicts many of the values in the town’s comprehensive plan.

Many towns, including the Town of Highland, signed a letter of opposition.

The Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act aims to address housing challenges by allowing religious corporations to bypass zoning. Religious organizations would be allowed to develop affordable housing on their land. It would streamline the approvals process, especially for multifamily housing, which is often prohibited by local zoning codes.

Every municipality would be obliged under the act to allow residential buildings up to specified densities. Residential buildings built under this act would have to set aside 20 percent of its floor area for households earning 80 percent of the area’s median income.

In April, the Association of Supervisors of Sullivan County voted unanimously  to send a letter of opposition to the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act. Supervisors that signed the letter are from Bethel, Callicoon, Cochecton, Delaware, Forestburgh, Fremont, Highland, Liberty, Lumberland, Mamakating, Neversink, Rockland, and Thompson.