Inclusionary zoning is on the agenda for the Worcester City Council’s Standing Committee on Economic Development’s meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Inclusionary zoning is a tool a municipality can use to ensure that a certain percentage of new development is affordable to a greater number of potential residents in a community.
In the May 24th City Council meeting, the council sent a report from the city’s Executive Office of Economic Development with information and recommendations for implementing the policy to the Economic Development Committee for further discussion in a public hearing.
In the report, Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn suggested future developments in Worcester with more than 12 units set aside 15% of habitable square footage for residents making 80% of that community’s area median income, or 10% of the habitable square footage for residents making 60% of AMI.
Dunn recommended an option where development owners could pay into the affordable housing trust fund in lieu of setting aside affordable units.
Tuesday’s meeting represents a public discussion of the issue. The final approval will have to be made by the City Council.
