HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) Harrisonburg City Council passed a request to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow the acceptance of cash proffers.

Cash proffers are what developers pay to offset effects on the community such as necessary road expansions.

The city was prohibited from accepting them before the council voted 4-1 at Tuesday’s meeting in favor of amending the ordinance.

New Councilman Nasser Alsaadun cast the lone no vote, saying the cash proffers could drive up housing costs, adding that developers who pay the city these proffers will eventually pass those costs on to homebuyers.

Adam Fletcher, the city’s director of community development, explained to council that city staff at other localities that developed this change to the ordinance, including several in Northern Virginia.