Howard County could avoid mixing moderate-income with upscale housing in the same area if the County Council passes a bill giving developers more latitude on where they build moderate-income homes.
“It is frustrating for me, because everyone supports affordable housing, until you get to where it is located,” said Council Member Kenneth Ulman, who is opposed to off-site housing and is running for county executive this year.
“I?m concerned about providing too much leeway to allow developers out of their responsibility.”
The bill would increase the ratio of moderate-income houses developers must add if they build them off site. For example, for one single-family detached house on site, a developer would have to include 1.5 off site.
Currently, new developments must dedicate between 5 percent and 15 percent of their houses to moderate-income buyers.
Steve Lafferty, deputy director of the county Department of Planning and Zoning, said the off-site homes could be added in areas including Ellicott City, Elkridge and Columbia.
“I?m not going to pretend they will end up in the western area of the county, where the land is extremely expensive,” he said.
But County Council Chairman Christopher Merdon said that although the bill needs work, the county should be flexible.
“The only way we?re going to be able to get true affordable housing is if we stay flexible and look at as many options as possible,” said Merdon, who also is running for county executive this year.
“We oppose all alternatives which would allow developers to build low-income housing on a alternate site,” said Bridget Mugane, president of the Howard County Citizens Association.
She said moving the homes off site would threaten the county?s diversity.
If you go
The County Council will hold a legislative work session at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and will vote on the bill at 7:30 p.m. May 1. Both meetings will take place in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building on Court House Drive in Ellicott City.
