A new lawsuit takes aim at the city of Cambridge’s inclusionary zoning ordinance, with plaintiffs arguing that it unlawfully requires real estate developers to surrender their constitutional land use rights.

The Pioneer New England Legal Foundation filed the suit in state Land Court Tuesday on behalf of developer Columbia St, LLC. The suit challenges an ordinance that requires any property owner seeking a building permit for a project of 10 units or more to permanently set aside 20% of the square footage for affordable housing.

The city first passed its ordinance in 1998 and amended it with the 20% provision in 2017. More than 1,100 units of affordable rental and ownership housing have been completed or are under construction due to the program, according to the city.

“With an emphasis

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