On January 8, the D.C. City Council voted overwhelmingly to sponsor legislation implementing its Inclusionary Zoning affordable housing law. Championed by Councilmembers Jim Graham and Chairman Vincent Gray, the bill fully reflects the position of the Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning, which has repeatedly requested implementation by the Mayor’s office since original enabling legislation was approved in December 2006.
Author: Elena Sorokina
TESTIMONY: Washington D.C.’s Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning
D.C.’s Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning is a broad coalition of traditional affordable housing allies along with progressive labor, religious and community-based groups. Over three years, the Campaign worked to achieve an inclusionary zoning policy which was adopted by the D.C. Zoning Commission (the body vested with land use authority in the District of Columbia). In December 2006, the D.C. City Council adopted the necessary legislation to implement the Zoning Commission’s polices, and appropriated money for staffing, but the new Mayor Fenty Administration has yet to issue draft regulations.
D.C.: Mixed-Income Housing
Remarkable increases in land values make it more challenging even for nonprofit developers to produce new affordable housing. On public lands, we have a tremendous opportunity to translate that high value into new affordable homes, helping our community realize direct benefits without needing to expend additional tax dollars to achieve them. With specific amendments, this could be truly landmark legislation.
DC Region Growth Patterns Contribute to Emissions Problem
Washington DC – Meeting the growing demand for conveniently located homes in walkable neighborhoods could significantly reduce the growth in the number of miles Americans drive, shrinking the nation’s carbon footprint while giving people more housing choices, according to a team of urban planning researchers.
Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change
This publication is based on an exhaustive review of existing research on the relationship among urban development, travel, and the CO2 emitted by motor vehicles. It provides evidence on and insights into how much CO2 savings can be expected with compact development, how compact development is likely to be received by consumers, and what policy changes will make compact development possible.
D.C. – Compilation of Inclusionary Zoning Regulations
The following document represents a consolidated version of Title 11 DCMR Chapter 26 Inclusionary Zoning. The document has been compiled by the DC Office of Planning and does not represent official zoning text. This chapter established an Inclusionary Zoning Program that furthers the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan by increasing the amount and expanding the geographic distribution of adequate, affordable housing available to current and future residents.
Fairfax County: Zoning Ordinance Amendments for Large Retail Sales Establishments
The Coalition supports the staff and Planning Commission recommendations to amend the zoning ordinance as outlined in the report. Bringing retail store proposals greater than 80,000 square feet under County special exception helps ensure these projects reflect comprehensive planning, transportation and environmental measures, thus better contributing to the public health and welfare. This allows large retailers to better contribute to the community they serve in partnership, while enhancing the economic viability of the stores themselves.
Ensuring Housing Opportunities in Fairfax
We co-authored “Ensuring Housing Opportunities in Fairfax” using 2005 – 2007 local data on housing costs and income to assess who faces the greatest need for affordable housing in Fairfax County. The analysis was undertaken following criticism by local housing advocates, who decried that the county’s ‘One Penny’ local housing trust fund was used to help finance preservation of units allocated to households making as much as $100,000 per year.
1000 Friends of Maryland Report on the ICC
This report by our partners at 1000 Friends of Maryland explores the financial, economic and regional development costs of building the Intercounty Connector.
Testimony in support of the proposed action for Takoma Metro Station redevelopment, Hearing No. 175, Docket R06-5
Since 2000, WRN has been involved with the question of what kind of redevelopment at the Takoma Metro station would do the most to enhance transit access, improve the station area and larger community, help meet the need for more housing near transit. Appropriate development at the Takoma Metro station helps accommodate our region’s growth in a way that enhances the Takoma neighborhood while contributing to the solution for our region’s transportation, air and water pollution problems.