Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) is a zoning tool developed by the Department of City Planning and Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which requires developers to include affordable housing in areas that are rezoned to allow for more housing development.
Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) made a long list of changes to the NYC Zoning Resolution, such as allowing buildings with affordable or senior housing to be taller, eliminating parking requirements for affordable or affordable senior housing that is located near subway lines, and changing rules which affect the shape of new and enlarged buildings.
We held two public hearings on these proposals on February 9 and 10, 2016. On March 17, the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and the Committee on Land Use both voted to approve modified versions of these proposals.
The full City Council approved the modified proposals on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. We’ve posted the modified MIH zoning text, ZQA zoning text, and transit zone map, as well as a detailed MIH/ZQA presentation to help summarize the changes.
What Was the City Council’s Role?
The Council has the power to approve, modify, or disapprove such proposals. However, any changes made by the City Council had to be “within scope”—that is, such changes must be on the same topic and within the boundaries of what has been studied in the Environmental Impact Statement. The City Council modified both proposals in response to concerns held by Council Members and their communities.
Public Review
These two proposals were reviewed by Community Boards, Borough Presidents, Borough Boards, and the City Planning Commission. All of those entities issued recommendations that are posted on the MIH & ZQA pages.
The Council review and vote was the final stage of this public review process.
Public Hearings
The City Council is organized into committees, and the Council’s Committee on Land Use, chaired by Council Member David Greenfield, has jurisdiction over zoning changes. Its Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, chaired by Council Member Donovan Richards, conducted the two public hearings on these proposals.
At these hearings, Council Members heard testimony from representatives of the Mayor, representatives of organizations throughout the city, and members of the public. Details, including hearing videos, agendas, and minutes, are archived online.
Check the MIH hearing testimony and the ZQA hearing testimony for more information on what was presented at each hearing.
* The explanation above is for informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as a substitute for the actual regulations, which are found in the approved zoning text.