The Village of Deerfield Board of Trustees on June 2 adopted an affordable housing plan the village will file with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA).

The plan, presented during a public hearing, lays out the village’s effort to increase the share of housing that meets the state’s affordability metrics. “The village of Deerfield has been identified by IDHA to need to file that plan because we have less than 10% of our total year‑round housing stock meeting their definition of affordable,” said Andrew, a staff member, during the hearing.

The nut of the plan is a village goal to reach 10% affordable housing — an increase of about 389 dwellings from the village’s IDHA‑measured baseline of 358 affordable units (4.8% of 7,475 year‑round units). The plan explains that IDHA counts owner‑occupied affordable units as those at 80% of area median income (AMI) and renter units at 60% AMI; the village sometimes uses a different local definition (100% AMI) for other programs. Andrew told trustees that for a household of four a 100% AMI is roughly $112,000 and 80% AMI is about $89,000.

Trustees noted recent local actions to expand affordable housing, including the village’s 2021 inclusionary zoning amendment and approvals of multiple residential redevelopments that are not yet captured in IDHA’s figures. Staff said recently approved projects will add about 218 affordable units once built, and named Zion Woods and a supportive‑living facility on the south side of Lake Cook Road as major contributors to those totals. The plan calls for ongoing monitoring and five‑year reviews of progress.

During the hearing trustees and staff discussed data limits: Andrew said IDHA’s report provides total counts but does not break down whether the counted units are single‑family, attached, detached, or in larger buildings. “We actually don’t have that breakdown from IDHA,” Andrew said.

After public comment and trustee remarks, the board voted to adopt the resolution approving the plan. Roll call voting recorded trustees Greenberg, Jacoby, Benton and Berg voting yes; the resolution passed. Staff will file the adopted plan with IDHA prior to the June 14 filing deadline and review performance of the plan every five years as described in the document.

The trustees emphasized that the 10% figure is a target and that market conditions influence how quickly the village can reach it. The board said it will continue to use its inclusionary zoning tools and redevelopment approvals to add affordable units over time.