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Atlanta City Council Amends MRC-3 Zoning to Boost Affordable Housing Density Bonuses and Introduce In-Lieu Fees

  • When: 2025/06/02
  • Address: Citywide, Atlanta, Georgia
  • City: Atlanta
  • State: GA
  • Category: Zoning Code Modification
  • Subcategory: Process updates
  • Asset Class: Multifamily
  • Property Type: Affordable Housing
  • Planning Department: True

An ordinance adopted by the Atlanta City Council to amend the 1982 Atlanta Zoning Ordinance, specifically sections 16-34.010 and 16-34.028, to modify the provisions of the Voluntary Density Bonus Program in MRC-3 zoning. The purpose is to address the city's housing affordability crisis by incentivizing the creation of affordable housing units. The amendments allow for increased residential floor area ratios (FAR) in exchange for providing affordable rental units at 60% AMI or 80% AMI, or by paying an in-lieu fee into a city trust fund for affordable housing production and preservation. The ordinance also includes provisions for open space, ground-floor commercial, and civic bonuses, as well as site limitations for building facade heights and maximum building heights of 225 feet. This aims to facilitate denser residential and mixed-use development, particularly around the Beltline and Upper Westside neighborhoods, and encourage the acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers.

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