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City's housing policy changes didn't use 'right methodology,' council member says

Dozens of KC Tenants members packed City Council chambers on Thursday to oppose an ordinance that would loosen affordable housing requirements for developers.
Celisa Calacal
/
KCUR 89.3
KC Tenants members pack City Council chambers on Aug. 18 to oppose an ordinance that would loosen affordable housing requirements for developers.

After the City Council passed an ordinance relaxing requirements for affordable housing, two members who opposed the policy share why they voted against the ordinance and how they'd like to see the policy better address tenants' and builders' concerns.

The Kansas City Council approved an ordinance relaxing requirements for affordable housing. Four council members opposed the measure, including Andrea Bough, of the 6th District-at-Large, and Heather Hall, of the 1st District.

Bough said the ordinance doesn't address extreme affordability, and is not reflective of Kansas City.

The decision was too fast, Hall said, and there weren't discussions about making the policy equitable for developers and tenants.

"We didn't do it with the right methodology," Hall said. "And so we can't just say $1,200 is fair. And we also can't say, developers, you have to do this or this to build in Kansas City."

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