Mayor Gainey's Inclusionary zoning plan prevails before commission after 11-hour hearing with support from a community activist and most of the 200 people in attendance in support of the plan.
The commission voted 8 to 0, with one abstaining.
The city’s inclusionary zoning requires all new developments with 20 units or more to set aside at least 10% of units for lower-income residents at affordable rates.
Muhammad Ali Nasir, member of One Hood Outreach team spoke at Tuesday's meeting and favors Mayor Gainey's inclusionary zoning proposal.
“You know that the housing crisis isn’t hitting everybody equally,” said Nasir. “It’s Black residents who are being pushed out of their communities at alarming rates to the point that most of the people that I grew up with can no longer afford to live within the city limits.”
Nasir believes in building a Pittsburgh where everyone can thrive.
“We stood in a court house, we stood in the streets and we’re standing here today, advocating for basic human rights and housing is a human right,” added Nasir.
City councilman Anthony Coghill said that he, at one time, favored inclusionary zoning.
“I will tell you the truth of the matter is, I was in favor of it because I knew it would stunt development in Lawrenceville,” said Coghill.
But things changed for him.
“At the time, had I known that this mayor was going to put inclusionary zoning and reference it for the entire city, I would’ve never voted for it.”
Currently there are four neighborhoods in the city that require new housing projects to have 10 percent of the units affordable.
he decision sends the bill to city council with a positive recommendation, and will require only a majority vote to approve it.