e Cc ity Devel t
City of Nashua Planning and Zoning
. sone Building Safet
Community Development Division Code Enforcement
Urban Programs
City Hall, 229 Main Street, PO Box 2019 Conservation Commission
Nashua, New Hampshire 03061-2019 Transportation
www.nashuanh.gov FAX
589-3095
589-3090
589-3080
589-3100
589-3085
589-3105
880-0100
589-3119
Date: September 22, 2021
To: Ald. Lori Wilshire, Board of Aldermen President
Jim Donchess, Mayor
cc: Board of Aldermen
From: Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director
Re: Inclusionary Zoning Financial Feasibility Study
In October of 2020 the Economic Development and Community Development Divisions partnered with
RKG Associates to complete a comprehensive Housing Study to better understand the dynamics in
Nashua and the surrounding region that impact housing supply and demand. That study in conjunction
with the Imagine Nashua effort over the last year, highlight the critical need to understand the financial
constraints and opportunities in Nashua affecting the creation of more affordable housing.
To that end, one of the recommended strategies from the Housing Study was for the City to update its
Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to encourage affordable housing and ensure the City’s ordinances are
financially feasible. We have continued working with RKG Associates to complete a Financial Feasibility
Study, the final draft of which is attached to this memo and will be presented to the Board for discussion
at the September 28" meeting.
Following the presentation of this study, Economic Development and Community Development will
bring RKG Associates in for a series of three worksessions with the Board to create a draft Inclusionary
Zoning Ordinance implementing these findings. The Planning Board and other land use board members
will be encouraged to attend the worksessions.
It is important to remember the current housing situation was not created overnight, but based on
many years of policy decisions and market forces. Inclusionary Zoning is one of several strategies we
need to move forward to change course. Many others will be discussed with the revisions to the Land
Use Code in the coming year. All will take time and a measured and thoughtful approach, with
community support, to improve our community and housing for all Nashua residents.
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