The Howard County Council unanimously tabled contentious smoking ban and affordable housing bills Monday.
The smoking ban bill, sponsored by Council Chairman Christopher Merdon, R-District 1, would have prohibited smoking in bars and restaurants beginning July 1, 2008.
However, with the arrival of new Council Member Calvin Ball, D-District 2, political support has shifted toward another proposal, drafted by Council Member Kenneth Ulman, D-District 4,and County Executive James Robey, which would make the start date for the ban to June 1, 2007.
Since Ulman?s bill is likely to pass, Merdon?s bill is dead.
“The smoking bill that Jim Robey and I introduced will pass in June, and Howard County will have a clean air law on the books,” Ulman said.
The council tabled the affordable housing bill to “work out some solutions regarding the middle-income category. We will vote on the bill next month,” he said.
The bill would establish a middle-income category so families making around the Howard County average income could be eligible for affordable housing. The middle-income category would include households that make between about $66,000 and $90,000. In the current county zoning guidelines, only households that earn between $36,000 and $57,700 are eligible.
Another portion would allow developers to build affordable housing off the main site of the development, or pay a fee instead of building the affordable homes.
The council has submitted several amendments to the housing bill that would:
» Eliminate the part of the bill that would allow developer to pay a fee instead of building the homes.
» Ensure that developers place the affordable houses nearby if they build them off-site.
» Ensure that any household making less than $66,000 per year is eligible for affordable housing.
If you go
The Howard County Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed smoking ban that could start next year. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m May 15 in the Banneker Room of the George Howard building on Court House Drive in Ellicott City.
