Councilmembers reviewed the planning board’s recommendations on expanding affordable housing in the county. They noted that the process will take time, requiring hearings and zoning updates before any changes take effect.
“The formal legislative process hasn’t even started,” said Council President Andrew Friedson.
According to the planning board’s Attainable Housing Strategies, the county should add homes for the missing middle, who don’t qualify for subsidized housing but also can’t afford million-dollar homes.
Planning board members recommend making modifications to the county’s zoning to allow duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and small apartment buildings in what currently is single-family only zoned areas.
“As you all know, we are facing a housing shortage. Young people cannot afford a house,” said Councilmember Natali Fani-González during the council’s Tuesday meeting. “The status quo is not the answer,” she said.
She called the planning board’s recommendations “a menu of options,” adding, “We are trying to create a responsible way to move forward.”
Councilmember Sidney Katz said, “I agree that the county is facing a housing crisis. The question is, how do we move forward?” What is needed, he said, are homes “for our children and our grandchildren.”
Councilmember Evan Glass agreed, adding, “I recognize that it is hard for our kids and grandchildren to live in Montgomery County.” The younger generation is moving away to counties with houses that are more affordable, he said.
Currently, 40% of county residents are renters, according to Councilmember Will Jawando.
Glass cited statistics showing that the average attached home in the county is selling for $416,000, and the average single family house cost $1 million. The cost for a condominium is $382,000.
“That’s a lot,” Glass said. Recent college graduates with loans cannot afford to buy a home here, he added.
Councilmember Gabe Albornoz explained that residents are very concerned about housing options in the county. They tell him so when he is walking his dog, in the line at Safeway and during his children’s ballgames.
The council is accepting comments on the planning board’s strategies. As of mid-October, the county already had received 1,386 comments and more than 400 emails.
