The Pros and Cons of Inclusionary Zoning

This article from the Winter 2007 edition of On Common Ground magazine published by the National Association of Realtors(r), discusses the experience of several communities that have tried to address the shortage of affordable housing by implementing inclusionary zoning programs.

"To some, inclusionary zoning is the means to preserving a healthy mix of diverse incomes, ethnicities and workforces in increasingly pricey municipalities...To others, inclusionary zoning is an impediment to growth, an interference with the free market and an exceedingly expensive cost-per-unit way of integrating lower incomes into high land-value areas."

"John McIlwain, a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute, believes inclusionary zoning is a piece of the puzzle, but not the complete solution. He agrees with homebuilders that more affordable housing is created through density bonuses than strict inclusionary requirements alone."

""It won't produce the amount of affordable housing that's needed by a long shot, but it's still a very valuable tool if it's done right," he said of inclusionary zoning."

Thanks to Hugh Morris