A Pittsburgh City Council bill that replaces a proposed citywide affordable housing mandate with an optional program will soon return to the body with the City Planning Commission’s blessing.
On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously recommended the legislation package, which proposes an affordable housing bonus program, would permit accessory dwelling units by right for certain buildings and would remove minimum parking requirements for new developments.
“The best inclusionary housing policies recognize the economic realities of residential development in the local rental market and incorporate flexibility,” said City Councilor Erika Strassburger prior to the commission’s vote.
The bill, if passed, would allow developers to earn points based on the number of affordable units that they incorporate into their housing developments — a system that already exists along the riverfronts, residential mixed-use areas and urban centers. The points allow developers to add height to buildings…