Testify in Support of Inclusionary Zoning

Why

The D.C. Zoning Commission recently adopted inclusionary zoning, which would require new residential developments to include a portion of affordable homes – in exchange for allowing some additional market-rate units on site as. Now, the Zoning Commission will decide where in the District this requirement will apply. The D.C. Office of Planning proposed an inclusionary zoning map. Two public hearings are scheduled for October (5th and 19th) to receive the public’s input on where inclusionary zoning should apply.

The proposed map has the potential to create nearly 200 affordable units each year and applies inclusionary zoning equitably and effectively across the city. The Zoning Commission needs to hear from residents that they want affordable housing in their neighborhood, that inclusionary zoning should apply extensively in the District, and that the proposed map achieves these goals. Without broad support from District residents, certain neighborhoods may be excluded from inclusionary zoning thereby creating much fewer affordable homes.

Talking Points

• I support affordable housing in my neighborhood. I want people who work in the Disctrict to have an opportunity to live here. Inclusionary zoning is one way to provide this opportunity.
• The D.C. Office of Planning’s map proposal is equitably applied all over the city. The distribution of affordable housing provides a diversity of housing opportunities throughout the city. Inclusionary zoning should cover as many neighborhoods as possible.
• The D.C. Office of Planning showed how inclusionary zoning will have a minimal impact on my neighborhood. I appreciate this effort to bring new housing opportunities to my neighborhood while preserving its character.
• We need more mixed-income communities in the District and inclusionary zoning is a way to achieve that goal.
• Inclusionary zoning is an important part of a larger strategy to meet the affordable housing needs of current and future District residents.
• Affordable housing and historic preservation are compatible goals. Inclusionary zoning should apply in historic districts.

How

To better organize the hearings and to separate out the more complicated areas, the Zoning Commission decided to hold two separate rounds of public hearings.

October 5th – 6:30 p.m. (non-historic areas)

October 19th – 6:30 p.m. (historic areas)

Both will be held at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St, NW, Suite 220-South. Sign up to testify by contacting Sharon Schellin at the Zoning Commission at (202) 727-6311 or you can sign up the night of the hearing.

Inclusionary zoning is Z.C. Case No. 04-33A. Label your testimony with this Case Number. Bring 12 original copies of your testimony to the public hearing. You will have three minutes to speak. If you cannot attend one of the public hearings, testimony can also be mailed to: Sharon Schellin, Office of Zoning, 441 4th St, NW, Suite 200 South, Washington, D.C. 20001.

DC Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning

For more information, www.dciz.org

e-mail: swade@washingtonregion.net or (202)244-1105

 

• Overview
• Updates/Events
• Our Proposal
• Facts About IZ
• Coalition Members
• Get Involved
• Materials