Report: There's a Right Way to Do Inclusionary Zoning

A new study from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy makes the case for well-timed, thoughtful use of inclusionary zoning as a tool to support diverse, affordable communities.

1 minute read

September 24, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


No Luxury Condos

Brooke Anderson / Flickr

A post by Anthony Flint on the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy website announces the release of a new report titled "Inclusionary Zoning: Creating and Maintaining Equitable Communities." As noted in the post, debates about inclusionary zoning are raging in cities all over the country. The new report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy endeavors to "[separate] myth from fact, charting a path forward for policymakers and showing how inclusionary housing can be used effectively to reduce economic segregation."

More specifically, according to Flint, "author Rick Jacobus of Cornerstone Partnership offers solutions for overcoming the major political, technical, legal and practical barriers to successful inclusionary housing programs," after providing a review of literature and case studies.

Randy Billings already picked up on the news of the new report for the Portland Press Herald, indicating the relevance of inclusionary zoning to housing policy in Maine's largest city. "The [Maine] City Council is also considering adopting an inclusionary zoning ordinance," reports Billings. "Even though the proposed ordinance received a negative recommendation from the Planning Board, several councilors continue to support the proposal, which they will take up at a meeting in October."

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