NEWARK -- Touted by housing advocates as a "necessary measure" that could stop gentrification in the city, a law requiring affordable housing fell short on Wednesday.

The Newark City Council failed to adopt the inclusionary zoning ordinance that would mandate 20 percent of large residential projects be set aside for low- and moderate income residents. The vote came 50 years to the day that the city erupted in a five-day disturbance over issues that included poor housing conditions and police brutality.

The measure passed on first reading in June after months of wrangling between housing advocates, developers and political leaders over how to balance development with affordability.

But three council members voted against it Wednesday and two others abstained amid confusion over which version of the legislation they were voting on. The council agreed to defer the ordinance to the next meeting.

"I believe in the concept of inclusionary law but I do not believe that this process was the best one to take," Councilman Augusto Amador said before voting "no."

Amador said a committee was formed after advocates, city leaders and developers could not agree on earlier drafts of the law. He said he was given a different version of the legislation two weeks ago that did not take into account the committee's comments and "were ignored totally," Amador said.

Mayor Ras Baraka, long an advocate for the inclusionary zoning ordinance, said the legislation had not been changed in recent weeks and that the Councilman might be confusing memo recommendations from committee members with legislative changes from the legal department.

Amador maintained he received an amended ordinance from someone "in-house" that was vastly different from the one published on the LegiStar website where ordinances are uploaded.

Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins also voted against the ordinance and moved to table it but the council reconsidered and decided to defer it after Baraka made a plea.

"While we squabble with one another, these developers are moving forward ... they're not going to wait for us," he said. Baraka urged the council to set a timeline for passage adding that the council cannot keep giving developers tax abatements without addressing affordability.

Mayor @rasjbaraka pleads with City Council not to table inclusionary zoning law. "Let's get it right; let's get it done." pic.twitter.com/ZhIRhDO9At — Karen Yi (@karen_yi) July 12, 2017

Councilman John Sharpe James who voted in favor of the measure said the council should work to pass the law.

"I don't think any ordinance is perfect ... The people want this most importantly. We can make changes," he said, adding that the council should move quickly "before we don't have anything left to develop."

Housing advocates, who packed Wednesday's meeting, were puzzled by the mix-up and final vote but maintained the ordinance was pivotal for residents.

"It's disappointing," said Richard Cammarieri, who works at New Community Corporation. "It's important as one piece to establishing affordable housing."

"There has been a stand for justice throughout this history in Newark and now this council has an opportunity to make affordable housing to make equity in our community very real," Deborah Smith-Gregory, president of the NAACP Newark branch, told the council before the vote. "The neighborhoods will have the opportunity to experience quality, affordable housing that is not necessarily the case throughout the Newark."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.