Findings

[Amended 6-2-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-5]

• A. 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.
• B. 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.
• C. 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.
• D. 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."
• E. 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."
• F. Inclusionary zoning is consistent with State of Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24-46.1, as amended.