According to Karen Kelleher, planning coordinator for Stow, the policy is in the preliminary stages of planning but developers would be offered a density bonus to make their projects economically feasible. Kelleher tells GlobeSt.com that Stow is considering establishing the inclusionary zoning to "diversify the town's housing stock."

Stow's affordable-housing is currently 5.5% of the town's housing stock. Kelleher notes that at one point, the town was up to 6% affordable housing but she says that it is "losing momentum in providing low to moderate income" housing. New construction homes in this town, about 45 minutes west of Boston typically go for between $500,000 to $600,000.

"We are trying to find another option to avoid the comprehensive permit process," says Kelleher. The comprehensive permit enables a developer to bypass local zoning laws if the town has not reached its required ten percent affordable housing and if the developer includes a 25% affordable housing component in his project. Kelleher says that inclusionary zoning, while it won't stop comprehensive permits, will put more local control over projects built here. Kelleher also emphasizes that it is not unusual for a town to want to increase the diversity of its housing--especially when they're below the ten percent requirement. She says that a number of other towns have adopted the zoning policy.