By Cynthia Whitty

Select Board member Brandi Kinsman is one of the committee members working on a town-wide Inclusionary Housing zoning bylaw to increase affordable housing in Ashland. An adoption of inclusionary zoning is one tool that over 100 communities have adopted to keep pace with the growing housing pressures.

The committee is comprised of Steve Greenberg and David Rosenblum from the Affordable Housing Trust; Ron Etskovitz from the Board of Health; Tricia Kendall from the Planning Board; Town Planner Peter Matchak; and Assistant Town Planner Emma Snellings. They are planning to bring the bylaw to the May town meeting. 

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has created a website, Ashland for All (bit.ly/3rG3A6A) that has information on Ashland’s need for affordable housing, the town’s Housing Production Plan (HPP), and the Inclusionary Housing bylaw.

In this interview, Kinsman explains inclusionary housing and the pros and cons for Ashland.

Whitty: Can you explain what inclusionary housing is? 

Inclusionary Housing is a zoning policy/bylaw that would require all new development to include a certain number of deed-restricted affordable housing units as part of a proposed project for both owner-occupied and rentals. A zoning policy/bylaw is a best practice to increase affordable housing. Over 100 cities and towns in Massachusetts have adopted Inclusionary Housing policies. Presently, Ashland does not have a town-wide requirement for including affordable housing in development projects. 

Whitty: How did this proposal come about? 

Ashland’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) first created in 2016 and then updated in 2022 proposed inclusionary zoning as policy/ bylaw for the community to adopt. 

Whitty: Who else besides your committee has been working on this?

Our committee partnered with MAPC, a local housing agency, featuring Alex Koppleman and Alexis Smith, who have expertise as housing planners.
 

Whitty: What exactly are you proposing to be voted on?

We are proposing to adopt an inclusionary zoning bylaw, which will require developers to add 10 percent of their total units as deed-restricted affordable units. This provides an opportunity for equal housing options in the community. 

Whitty: What are the pros and cons?

The pros are, inclusionary zoning adds affordable housing units into the community, creating an equilibrium of affordable housing options in comparison to market-rate housing options, under the State Statute Chapter 40B. 

The cons are, without this policy, as development progresses, there is a limited incentive and no accountability on the project developer to include affordable housing options. 

Whitty: How would the bylaw impact the town and neighborhoods?

Ultimately, the bylaw would increase Ashland’s overall housing for our workforce, which includes teachers, police officers, and firefighters that want to work and live in our community. This policy is also in line with the state’s mandate that towns need to have 10 percent of their housing be affordable and will help us reach that goal. 

Whitty: What are the next steps?

Our next step in this process, following the survey conducted late January--early February, is to present the community with a draft bylaws in preparation of Town Meeting in May. Ashland resident are invited to take part in an upcoming housing community forum.