WORCESTER, Mass. - Following Tuesday night's city council vote, Worcester will soon be an inclusionary zoning city, meaning local developers will have to include affordable units in new buildings or pay a price.

Per the City of Worcester’s new inclusionary zoning ordinance, new developments of 12 or more units will have to set aside 10% to 15% of them as "affordable" - 10% if the apartments are priced at 60% of the area median income, and 15% if they’re priced at 80% of the area median income.

“This is what we wanted for the City of Worcester, and I think this is more flexible, more developers will still come here," said Mayor Joseph Petty. "Housing is important to me, I try to address every issue that comes in front of me and do what’s in the best interest for the people of Worcester.”

But among other concerns, the Worcester Together Affordable Housing Coalition and dozens of city residents who spoke out before the vote wanted to see the city’s definition of what is affordable better reflect the struggles many are facing to pay their rent.

“People who have grown up here for generations, their kids cannot afford to live here because we’re pushing them out," said Gina Plata-Nino of the Worcester Together affordable Housing Coalition. "When did it become normal to say that at minimum, for you to even think about renting an apartment, the minimum should be 60 percent AMI? Most college graduates don’t start making that."

In 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income for an individual in Worcester was roughly $28,000 annually. A 60 percent AMI apartment would cost about $1,400 per month, compared to the average rent price of $1,724.

City Councilor Sean Rose believes making those apartments cheaper would potentially hurt the cause.

“I’ve deduced that a further tightening of available debt for 12-plus development projects and a further tightening of underwriting requirements from lenders, some sources have shared with me financing simply isn’t open for business if it includes too many affordability restrictions," Rose said. "Financial feasibility isn’t just about the reduction of rent, it’s about the risk profile of any project.”

If developers wanted to avoid meeting the new standards, they’d have to make a payment equal to 3% of the building permit construction value. The coalition's proposal called for 5%.

Those like Plata-Nino fighting for bolder action don’t plan on stopping now, even though inclusionary zoning, in some form, is finally on the books.

“When have you seen that many community members come in united on one front?" Plata-Nino said. "That was the voice of individuals saying ‘We’ve had enough, we want you to listen to us. Yes, our coalition failed in that sense and lost in that sense, but it won in the other sense that people’s voices are elevated and hopefully they will remember that.”

In a statement, Worcester Region Chamber of Commerce VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy Alex Guardiola said the chamber is happy the city council approved the ordinance.

"Currently, 12.4% of all new permitted housing is dedicated to affordable in Worcester and now the addition of inclusionary zoning will help us gain even more," Guardiola said. "As the second largest city in New England, it is important for us to be a leader in building housing where residents can afford to live.