The Haverhill City Council’s review of an inclusionary zoning ordinance has been postponed to July. The ordinance, submitted by the mayor’s office, would require 10% of all housing units built in Haverhill to be affordable. Originally the Council review was to take place at the Council’s September 21st, 2021. However, Economic Development & Planning Director William Pillsbury requested that the review be postponed allowing additional for research.
According to Director Pillsbury, the ordinance submitted by the mayor will have to be substantially amended based on feedback from the mayor’s housing task force. The Housing Task Force was formed to advise the city on how to best accomplish implementing an inclusionary zoning ordinance. Possible amendments include the ordinance not applying to single family homes and the creation of an affordable housing trust. The task force is also considering other cities’ inclusionary zoning ordinances as a basis for potential amendments.
Haverhill is already over the 10% subsidized housing units threshold and thus the city can reject 40B affordable housing projects. Future updates will be posted on the NSR Advocacy Blog.
