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By Kay Brooks January 31. 2016 12:01AM Guest Opinion: Time for the state to step aside on inclusionary housing Just about everyone in the Rogue Valley recognizes that we have a crisis when it comes to housing affordability — both for home buyers and renters. The only real question is what to do about it. One proven strategy that has been around for over 40 years, and is currently being used in over 500 cities across the country, is inclusionary housing. Inclusionary housing means that when a developer is building a new development over a certain size, whether an apartment building, townhomes or a subdivision, the city can require the developer to include a certain percentage of units at below-market-rate. Cities can use this tool to help create the right balance in different neighborhoods and provide more housing options to more families. It's not a free handout for low-income families, nor is it a tax on developers. Cities provide developers with offsets, such as density bonuses, fee waivers and expedited permitting, to ensure the developers still get a healthy return on their investment. How much to set aside and what kinds of offsets to provide are technical details that get decided at the local level, but bottom line, inclusionary housing works, and has generated tens of thousands of new housing units for working families across the country. Unfortunately, cities in Oregon (and Texas) don't have this option. In 1999, special-interest lobbyists in the Oregon Legislature pushed through a law that took this tool away, and since then, the Legislature has kept cities from attempting to use this tool. The good news is that there is a bill before the Legislature right now, SB 1533, that would restore local control and let Medford and every city in the state decide for themselves whether this tool, in one form or another, is right for their community. A broad range of community stakeholders and experts has weighed in to support this bill, including developers and Realtors who want to be a part of the housing solution. Over a dozen cities and counties across the state have already endorsed this bill, and while some cities are already analyzing current local market conditions to customize the tool to their needs, other cities may be more reluctant and might take a wait-and-see approach. Personally, I would like to see Medford and other cities in the Rogue Valley use inclusionary housing. It's not a magic solution, but it's one of a few critical tools that can directly help us provide more housing to more families from different socioeconomic levels. We can't sit by while our teachers, nurses, firefighters and others struggle to find housing that is affordable. Including housing opportunities in new developments will have a ripple effect that will benefit everyone. It means better access to good jobs and schools. It makes transportation more manageable and affordable. It puts people of all ages and backgrounds closer to health care, parks and social services. All told, it helps reduce some of the inequality that has run rampant in our state and is taking hold right in our own communities. But the key point is that SB 1533 is not a mandate, and does not require any city to do anything. It simply allows cities to consider and use the tool if they think it could help. It's ridiculous that our Legislature took the option away in the first place, and restoring local control is something that every local elected official, and every resident, regardless of politics, should support. I encourage every Rogue Valley resident to contact your state senator and representative and urge them to support SB 1533 so that every city, including Medford, has the right to decide for itself whether or not to use this proven tool to address the housing affordability crisis we all face. Kay Brooks is a member of the city of Medford’s Housing and Community Development Commission and the Jackson County Homeless Task Force, and serves on the Rogue Valley Chapter Board of Oregon Action. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160131/OPINION/160139984 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->