Gainesville in Final Discussions on Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

Gainesville, Florida is in the final stages of planning and discussion on an ordinance that would implement mandatory inclusionary zoning in the city.

“The outline [of the proposed ordinance] presented to the plan board in June would require 10% affordable units for all developments with 10 or more units,” reports Seth Johnson for Main Street Daily News. “So, a developer proposing a 200-unit complex would set 20 units aside as affordable. The city could compensate by then allowing the developer to build extra units, taking the development above 200 units.” Gainesville has approved developments with inclusionary zoning already, but only on a voluntary basis, adds Johnson. 

The debate is occurring just a few months after reversing a decision to replace the city’s single-family zoning with “neighborhood residential zoning.” The zoning change would have allowed more multi-family residential buildings in the city.

The same study that produced that previous effort at zoning reforms is also responsible for the current inclusionary zoning proposal, according to the article, “The City Commission hired a firm to conduct a housing study that finished at the end of 2021. That study looked at both inclusionary and exclusionary zoning, directly leading to last year’s vote to end single-family zoning. With that decision reversed, the city can set its sights on inclusionary zoning and other housing changes,” writes Johnson.

The report, completed by HR&A Advisors, is available to read online.