IHI INCLUSIONARY ZONING CONFERENCE

Participants from around the US, confronted with communities in need of affordable housing learned about Inclusionary Zoning in Montgomery County, Maryland, a jurisdiction which has produced more than 11,000 affordable housing units since adoption of its Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit Law in 1974.

The program included:

• Tour of inclusionary zoning: duplex homes, townhouses, single family homes, garden apartments and mutli-family rental
• Keynote address by David Rusk, author and urbanologist 
• Learned about the practicalities of inclusionary zoning from John Clarke, Vice President of Elm Street Development in McLean, Va; Paul McGinty, Vice President Ohio Savings; Eric Larsen, Program Administrator for MPDU; Andrew Oxendine, Property Mangement for Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission, moderated by Sally Roman, past president League of Women Voters MC and retired planner
• Learned about strategies for developing a successful inclusionary zoning ordinance, from Jim Upchurch who led a successful campaign for inclusionary zoning in Frederick County, Maryland; Elizabeth Sternberg who developed the "state of the art" ordinance for Newton, Mass; Dave Crouch who’s efforts for inclusionary zoning in Franklin, Tenn. lost by one vote and Dan Finn who is working with a group of cities near St. Cloud, Minn.
• Grassroot success described by Peg McRory who led the efforts in Montgomery County

Program participants were provided with a comprehensive book prepared by Business and Professional People in the Public Interest (BPI) in Chicago. The book includes nuts and bolts information about inclusionary zoning along with sample ordinances from around the country.

The conference was supported by a gift from the Ford Foundation.