Workforce Housing Ordinance Case Studies

Issues Addressed:
Affordable Housing Housing Costs Housing Options Multigenerational

Wakefield, NH

Wakefield responded to the Workforce Housing mandate by passing a so-called Workforce Housing Ordinance that explicitly invokes the Inclusionary Housing zoning tool authorized by the State. Under Wakefield’s ordinance, residential Workforce Housing developments are allowed by Conditional Use Permit in most of the land zoned for residential and agriculture uses. Single-family, duplex, and multifamily housing (up to eight units per structure) are allowed. Base density and dimensional requirements carry over from base districts, with density bonuses of 15% offered to developments with at least 30% of units qualifying as Workforce Housing.

Barrington, NH

Barrington passed a Workforce Housing ordinance in response to the mandate. Barrington’s law does not specifically invoke Inclusionary Housing, though it functions similarly. Workforce Housing developments are allowed in most residential areas by Conditional Use Permit, and developments keeping at least 20% of units affordable receive density bonuses and dimensional relief, at the discretion of the Planning Board.
A Barrington charrette in 2015 arrived at two options for mixed-use residential development: the village center and village green. (Images via Town of Barrington.)

State Law

Resources

Related Tools

A drawing showing an aerial view of same plot of land three times. Above there is a version labeled "Undeveloped," with a wooded area and a lake and stream. At bottom-left there is a version labeled "Conventional Subdivision." It shows the land divided into a ten parcels of relatively even size spread out across the area. There is a large amount of road and driveway area and many of the trees have been removed. At bottom-right is a version labeled "Cluster Housing." It shows twelve relatively small homes on twelve small parcels, clustered in two groups at the bottom-left of the area. The trees have been preserved, and only a small amount of road/driveway area connects the homes to the main edge of the area. Green trails wind throughout the parcel and connect to both the houses and the public road away from the houses. The Cluster Housing diagram has additional labels: "Preserved Natural Features," "Less Infrastructure," "Bonus units," and "Public access."
Cluster Housing
A diagram illustrating attached and detached Accessory Dwelling Units. There are two attached versions: one where a garage or addition has been turned into an ADU with a separate side entrance and one in which an attic has been turned into an ADU with stairs leading to a separate upstairs entrance. There is one detached ADU diagram, showing a small out-building with its own entrance and pathway behind a larger home.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
A diagram showing the front facades of housing types and given labels: small single-family, townhomes (attached single-family), cottage court (grouped small single-family), duplex, stacked duplex, triplex, stacked triplex, four-plex, six-pack, courtyard apartments.
Missing Middle Housing Types
A diagram of a single-family subdivision with twelve homes. Eight homes in red are labeled "Base Market-Rate Units." Two homes in yellow are labeled "Affordable Units." Two homes in blue are labeled "Bonus Market-Rate Units."
Inclusionary Zoning