Goodman calls for affordable housing

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Monday the city should "get tough" on developers and demand they provide affordable housing within new developments.

Goodman, speaking during a joint meeting between the City Council and city Planning Commission on affordable or attainable housing, said the council should consider requiring developments include the lower-priced homes, as well as maybe a grocery store.

The mayor said in return the council could allow developers to increase the density of their proposed developments so they could build more homes per acre.

Councilman Lawrence Weekly was one of several other council members and planning commissioners who also said the idea of including homes of varying cost within a development, know as inclusionary zoning, is important for the city.

No decisions were made during the Monday meeting. City staff are expected to take the suggestions from the city's elected and appointed leaders and incorporate them into recommendations for future ordinances and policies.

The issue of affordable housing has been given increased attention in recent months as the cost of homes in the Las Vegas Valley continues to rise and leaders worry that the working class will be, or have been, priced out of home ownership.

Margo Wheeler, director of Planning and Development, said that next month the council will formally consider changes to the city's ordinances related to planned developments, hillside developments and converting apartments to condominiums.

Mary Ann Price, spokeswoman for Neighborhood Services Department, said department staff will be researching inclusionary zoning and getting input from homebuilders and developers and expect to report findings and recommendations to council within three to six months.

Councilman Steve Wolfson said it was nice to see all of the talk about affordable housing heading toward action on the matter.

He added that developers need to be convinced to give something back to the community, but he said "there's no simple solution" to the problem of affordable housing.

Councilman Gary Reese said he expects that during the next two years there will be a "housing crunch" in Las Vegas related to affordable housing.

Reese also criticized the city Housing Authority, which he said "lacks vision for affordable and attainable housing."