Which planning tool helps provide affordable units and reduce displacement by encouraging higher-density near transit?

• A. Parking minimums.
• B. Transit-Oriented Development.
• C. Exclusive zoning for single-family only.
• D. Tree canopy mandates.

Answer: (B)

Transit-Oriented Development concentrates housing and services within walking distance of transit stations, using higher-density, mixed-use development to create active, bikeable, and affordable options near transit corridors. By design, it makes it feasible to live close to work and transit, which lowers housing costs per unit and reduces long commutes. This approach often includes zoning incentives or requirements for affordable units, helping to preserve a diverse, stable population and limit displacement as neighborhoods near transit evolve.

Parking minimums push developers to include substantial parking, which raises land costs and can make housing near transit less affordable and less dense. Exclusive zoning for single-family homes blocks the higher-density options that TOD relies on, thereby limiting affordable units and keeping people farther from transit. Tree canopy mandates improve environmental quality but don’t directly address housing supply, affordability, or displacement near transit.

So the tool that best aligns with creating affordable units and reducing displacement by encouraging higher-density near transit is Transit-Oriented Development.