In the fall of 2021, the ULI Northwest Arkansas district council, in partnership with the Form Based Code Institute of Smart Growth America, launched the Aligned for Affordability program. The ultimate goal of this program is to advance the production of attainable, market-rate housing nearer to jobs, goods, services, and amenities while increasing transportation choices for residents, enhancing public and social health, and addressing the environmental and economic consequences of sprawl.  

To achieve this goal, the team convened a NWA Planner Community of Practice composed of city planners from across the Northwest Arkansas region. Members of the NWA Planner Community of Practice represented every municipality in our region with a planning staff member, planning consultants and regional planners that work across municipalities without dedicated staff, and staff members from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.  

Each month throughout 2022, the team hosted a series of seminars and workshops featuring national advocacy leaders, planning policy and practice experts, and leading housing developers from our area, all of whom engaged with the planners on topics relating to increasing housing affordability. Sessions covered topics including regional demographic and economic trends, impactful zoning reform options, entitlement streamlining, soft cost reduction, diversifying housing types, balancing land use and transportation, and community outreach and education.  

The Aligned for Affordability program allows city planners in our region to take the lead in achieving more attainable housing and livable communities.

Aligned For Affordability: A Roadmap for Local Government Policy and Practice in Northwest Arkansas aims to help city planners create more affordable, livable communities.

Three Essential Goals

The Northwest Arkansas Planner Community of Practice has dived deep into the local housing market and policies. Their Roadmap, packed with checklists and resources, outlines three main goals:

1. Boost the Supply of Affordable Market-Rate Housing: We need more homes that people can actually afford.
2. Place Affordable Housing Near Jobs, Services, and Amenities: It’s important to have housing close to where people work and play.
3. Simplify Doing the Right Thing: Make it easier to develop affordable housing.

Hitting these goals will make housing more available, improve transportation, enhance public health, and protect the environment.

Download the full report here.