The Town of Barrington's Affordable Housing Plan outlines strategies to achieve the state-mandated ten-percent low- and moderate-income (LMI) housing goal, expanding housing options for current and future residents of Barrington.

Based on the Town's history of development and the limited amount of developable land remaining, this is an aggressive goal that will require policy interventions, including the inclusionary zoning program as described in this article.

Without the adoption of mandatory inclusionary zoning, along with other strategies identified in the Affordable Housing Plan, the Town's stock of affordable housing would continue to be inadequate to meet the needs of Barrington's low- and moderate-income residents and employees.

Inclusionary zoning is consistent with the state's Comprehensive Housing Production and Rehabilitation Act of 2004 (R.I.G.L. § 42-128-8.1), which states the following: "Creative funding mechanisms are needed at the local and state levels that provide additional resources for housing development, because there is an inadequate amount of federal and state subsidies to support the affordable housing needs of Rhode Island's current and projected population."

Pursuant to Comprehensive Housing Production and Rehabilitation Act of 2004 § 42-128-8.1g, the state has adopted a Strategic Plan for Housing which includes guidelines for higher-density development, including, but not limited to, "inclusionary zoning provisions for low- and moderate-income housing with appropriate density bonuses and other subsidies that make the development financially feasible."

Inclusionary zoning is consistent with State of Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24-46.1, as amended.

To promote the public health, safety and welfare by promoting the development of low- and moderate-income housing within the Town of Barrington in accordance with the state mandate and to provide for a full range of housing choices throughout the Town for households of all incomes, ages and sizes.

To promote the development of affordable housing throughout the Town in a manner that is consistent with the Town's adopted Affordable Housing Plan and the Comprehensive Plan.

To produce housing that qualifies as affordable as defined by the mandates of the state's Comprehensive Housing Production and Rehabilitation Act of 2004.

To establish mixed-income households within new subdivisions and land development projects throughout the Town.

For all applicable projects, at least 15% of the units within the project must qualify as affordable housing, as defined by RIGL 42-128-8.1(d)(1). The total number of units for the development may include less than 15% affordable units after the density bonus described in § 185-195 is determined.

Fractional units. Where the required number of affordable units results in a fraction the applicant shall round up to the nearest whole number.

A Town-approved monitoring service agreement with a qualified organization.

Off-site options. The Planning Board, at its sole discretion, may allow an applicant of an inclusionary zoning project to comply with the requirements of § 185-193 by constructing inclusionary units on a site other than that which the project is located. The following may be required by the Planning Board for such off-site construction:

Conditions. Provisions of off-site inclusionary units shall be subject to the following conditions:

Density bonus. The number of housing units allowable on the site or sites involved shall be increased to one market rate units for each affordable unit and the minimum lot area per dwelling unit normally required in the applicable zoning district shall be reduced by that amount necessary to accommodate the development. The total number of units for the development shall equal the number originally proposed, including the required affordable units, plus the additional units that constitute the density bonus. Reasonable relief from dimensional requirements to accommodate the bonus density shall be available in the form of a dimensional variance. An application that utilizes off-site construction or rehabilitation, or donation of land suitable for development of the required affordable units, shall not be eligible for the density bonus.