Housing & Land Use Planning

Objective

Patterns of transportation and land use decisions are still shaped by red-lining, while housing and mobility comprise large portions of the budget for low to moderate income households. Lack of access to affordable housing for low-income and middle-income individuals and families are widening disparities in communities of all sizes.

Are you reducing disparities and meeting the needs of underserved communities through equitable development? Are you helping to ensure that new housing is energy efficient and incorporates beneficial electrification?

Examples of Data Needed for Equitable Strategy Development (Qualitative and Quantitative)

  • Have you revised existing zoning ordinances to allow for mixed use development, multi-family housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and other measures that will increase affordable housing stock?
  • Do you have designated zones for transit-oriented development?

Examples of Equity-Based Municipal Strategies

Mixed Use & Transit-oriented Development:

  • Promote compact, mixed use development patterns that support safe, effective multimodal transportation options
  • Support small business, retail and grocery stores near transit
  • Promote infill development

Affordable Housing:

  • Allow a range of affordable housing types by-right to minimize protracted and discretionary processes that result in unpredictability for developers
  • Update zoning to allow for ADUs on residential property
  • Prioritize development of affordable housing in transit- and active transportation-rich locations and targeted growth areas.
  • Enact policies to prevent gentrification and displacement in desirable, transit-rich areas
  • Ensure affordable housing is built or renovated to be energy efficient, climate ready, and minimally carbon emitting.
  • Identify appropriate locations for buyouts or development rights transfers of low-income housing units in floodplains or other locations at risk due to climate change.

Modernized Zoning Codes:

  • Replace traditional use-based zoning with alternative land use regulatory tools like form based codes that are not exclusionary, inefficient, or harmful to natural habitats and systems

Responsible Local Agency or Department

  • Planning
  • Public Works
  • Planning & Community Development

Opportunities

  • Advocate for the Transit Oriented Development Act of 2022 – HR8401. Increases the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) provisions for buildings in TODs; Modifies IRS tax code Section 42

Obstacles

  • Affordable housing developers are building on the periphery
  • Siting of affordable housing is requiring vulnerable populations to own a car, imposing costs that undermine the intent of affordable housing
  • Property located near employment centers, transit and other amenities is often more expensive, making financials more challenging for developers

Municipal Examples

Resources and Contacts for Technical & Policy Support