The Howard County Council agreed to let the Housing Commission partner for funding to build housing on commercial land, but limited which areas and how much commercial land it could develop.
The amended version of a measure aimed at increasing affordable housing was called “a compromise” by council members, who addressed concerns that too much commercial land would be lost to housing.
“With the amendments we passed, the bill will definitely be constrainedenough,” said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1, adding that the council can revisit the measure.
The measure allows the Housing Commission to take advantage of moderate-income housing tax credits through funding partnerships and identifies the zones in which the commission can build affordable housing.
For example, to qualify to buy a house through Howard?s moderate-income housing program, an individual can make up to 80 percent of the median income, or $51,063.
The council voted to limit the amount of housing to 12 acres in three years. They also removed two business districts from the list of zones for residential development, a change pushed by Watson and Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5.
The Howard County Chamber of Commerce had suggested the council limit the amount of commercial land for residential development, saying in testimony, “The addition of [affordable housing] must not, however, come at the expense of the region?s economic viability.”
Heidi Gaasch, the chamber?s director of government and community affairs, said the chamber was pleased with how the council heard the business community?s concerns.
Councilwoman Jen Terrasa, D-District 3, said the bill was “a small step” for affordable housing.
Although she voted for the bill, Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, D-District 4, said she was “saddened we have removed some important provisions from this bill.”
Sigaty had supported the measure in its original form, and the two business districts that were removed would have provided more mixed-use development, including affordable housing.
“The argument that we?ll use up commercial land isn?t logical,” she said.
ON THE WEB
The Howard County Council passed several affordable housing measures at Monday?s legislative session.
To view these bills, visit howardcountymd.gov/CountyCouncil/Legislative_Pending.htm.
