Affordable housing shortage in Bucks County could be addressed by denser housing, but town residents oppose it, and town officials have not been approving such projects, writes Jess Rohan for the Bucks County Courier Times.

The county spans around 400,000 acres, with over 40 percent already developed. By 2023, roughly 23 percent, or over 92,000 acres, had been preserved, leaving about a third of the county’s land undeveloped and unpreserved. Most of this is zoned for single-family homes, with most new construction priced at over half a million dollars.

This creates a housing supply problem for lower- and middle-income residents, especially with the slowdown in proposed housing units and continued population and employment growth. Fewer than 1,000 units were proposed in 2023 and 2024, and proposed housing has not exceeded 2,000 units in at least a decade.

“Lower- and moderate-income households, including many who serve critical roles in our communities, are facing growing barriers to securing safe, affordable housing options,” said Evan Stone, Bucks County planning commission director.

Zoning for denser housing would provide new, more affordable homes, but it is unpopular with residents, and townships have been following suit in denying such projects.

Read more about Bucks County’s affordable housing challenges and why zoning decisions are at the heart of the ongoing debate in the Bucks County Courier Times.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on BUCKSCO Today in September 2025.