No matter who gets elected — Megan Barry or David Fox — the next mayor of Nashville will be in charge when the city completes a new affordable housing policy. The most controversial part — which the candidates don’t agree on — is known as “inclusionary zoning.”
It’s an increasingly popular method across the country for creating affordable housing. The concept forces developers to include some low-cost homes or apartments in every project.
While on the Metro Council,
Barry voted in favor of exploring such a policy — although the specifics still must be determined. She said that’s mostly done by the council and city planners.
“The Metro Council is going to be the one that determines what those tools look like, working with the Planning Commission,
“
she said, adding that the mayor,
“
has tremendous input in who will be head of the Planning Commission, and on the board, and also who is part of the planning staff.”
Read:
Affordable housing bill 1139
There’s no question where Fox stands. He opposes inclusionary zoning, calling it yet another business regulation ushered in by Barry.
He prefers offering incentives to developers who build affordable units.
“I much prefer using a carrot rather than telling people they’re going to set aside a certain percent that they’re going to do below market,
“
he said.
“
We don’t do that to other industries, and it’s certainly not generous, in my view, to say, ‘Well, we as a community want to make sure there’s affordable housing, and that group over there is actually going to pay for it, and not us.’ “
City planners have a January deadline to propose the new rules, which would then require a council vote.
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