Peabody kills its failed IZ ordinance

PEABODY-Potential developers in the city will no longer be able to opt out of creating affordable housing by writing a check for a negotiable amount.City Councilors voted Thursday night to remove the 6-year-old Inclusionary Zoning ordinance that many agree was full of good intent, but failed.?It?s been to our detriment,” said Councilor Arthur Athas, who spearheaded the movement toward its removal. “It?s been three years since affordable housing was built under the ordinance.”The decision to allow developers to buyout each unit of affordable housing required within the structure was made with hopes of using those funds to develop and/or improve existing affordable units throughout the city. However, when nearly $1 million was paid to the city by the developers of Dearborn in lieu of building 67 low-income units, it took the city years to decide how to spend it.?It created a lot of bad blood when it was supposed to create affordable housing,” said Councilor Anne Manning. “It was a good idea with the right intent, but it just hasn?t panned out.”A memo from the Community Development office expressed their disagreement with the proposal.?Removal of the language could act as a deterrent to developers, financers and others in the future and hold back quality projects from being done in Peabody,” the memo stated.It was apparent by the written correspondence that Community Development would have rather seen the ordinance tweaked to the likings of the Council, rather than abolished entirely.?It has no advantage to the community,” said Councilor Rico Mello, who saw the ordinance as pro-development. He said the money paid to the city never amounted to the number of units that would have been built.Councilors Barry Osborne and Dave Gamache believed differently.?In some instances, we should just take the money,” said Osborne, noting several occasions where developers have tied up the city for years without building a single affordable unit. “If you?re just going to make a mockery of us, I?ll just take your money.”?If we get something, it?s better than nothing,” echoed Gamache.The council voted 8-2 for its removal. Councilors Osborne and Gamache voted in favor of keeping it in place. Councilor Michael Garabedian was absent.