A controversial housing bill was killed, while contentious cable legislation intended to promote competition among service providers still may be alive.
The Howard County Council withdrew a measure Tuesday that would have allowed the county?s Housing Commission to partner with private investors to build housing on commercial land.
Council Member Christopher Merdon, R-District 1, who moved to pull the bill, said it should not have been filed and would have increased residential density without public feedback. The commission must follow most zoning regulations, except for density guidelines.
Council Member Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who introduced the bill, said the measure had merits but needed work.
The housing authority, which oversees residential growth, would have benefited from this proposal by having a new funding stream for affordable housing, and the investors would get a tax break. However, critics said last week that the proposal resembled a zoning bill and would allow developers to skirt certain zoning regulations.
The council will take up a bill that would give small cable companies secondary franchise status to boost competition. The council agreed to table the legislation, after approving an amendment to free residents of mandatory cable fees.
The council is expected to make a decision on the bill at the Oct. 30 legislative session, and the bill will be the first on the agenda for an Oct. 16 public hearing.
Council Member Charles Feaga, R-District 5, had said he wanted to withdraw the bill, but instead the council decided to work with residents to make necessary changes to the measure.
The bill faced criticism from residents of Taylor Village in Ellicott City, who protested unwanted fees from Ellicott City Cable, which would have benefited from this bill by having access to rights of way for installing cable lines.
