Which policy primarily aims to promote affordable housing within new developments?

• A. Inclusionary Zoning
• B. Gentrification
• C. Infrastructure
• D. Greenbelt

Answer: (A)

Inclusionary zoning aims to ensure affordable housing is built as new housing goes up by requiring or incentivizing developers to include a portion of units affordable to lower- or moderate-income households in market-rate projects. This approach weaves affordability into the fabric of growth, creating mixed-income neighborhoods rather than separate, stand-alone affordable-housing projects. It can be mandatory or tied to incentives like density bonuses or streamlined approvals, making the economics work for developers while expanding the affordable housing stock.

Gentrification is a process of neighborhood change that can displace existing residents as areas become more expensive; infrastructure refers to the physical facilities and services that support a city; greenbelt is land set aside to prevent urban sprawl. None of these directly embed affordable units within new developments the way inclusionary zoning does, which is why it’s the best answer.