Town to consider zoning to promote affordable housing

‘Inclusionary zoning’ requires each project to include
low-income units
by COREY YOUNG – Staff Writer
The Windsor Town Council will start discussing next week the
creation of an inclusionary housing ordinance in an effort to
provide more affordable housing.
The item will be taken up at the council’s regular Jan. 15
meeting.
One of the goals of the town’s recently approved Housing Element
of the General Plan is the creation of such an ordinance, which
would define what percentage of affordable homes must be included
with new development.
Planning Director Peter Chamberlin said Windsor’s planning
department will seek specifics on a possible ordinance from the
council.
Details that must be worked out before any ordinance is adopted
include the percentage of new development required to be for low,
very low- or moderate-income households. The council will also
consider whether developers can opt to pay an “in-lieu” fee to the
town instead of building the affordable units.
“The goal of this ordinance shall be to integrate affordable
housing with market rate housing wherever possible in order to
provide a diversity of housing options for Windsor residents,”
according to the town’s Housing Element.
Other cities in Sonoma County have adopted inclusionary
ordinances, most with affordable housing requirements between 10-20
percent.
The Home Builders Association of Northern California is
interested in how cities provide affordable housing and what effect
inclusionary laws have on new development, said Executive Director
Charlie Carson.
When it comes to providing below-market-rate homes, there is a
question of “how much of this is new housing’s burden, and how much
is the existing community’s burden,” said Carson. “If there’s not
another house built, there’s still a problem.”
The council will hold a public hearing on a possible
inclusionary ordinance at its Jan. 15 meeting, which starts at 6
p.m. at Town Hall, 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., building 400.