There is currently no legislation in front of the county council to act on recommended zoning changes for homes.
Recently, Council Vice President Will Jawando and Councilmember Kristin Mink spoke out against the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative presented by the planning board.
On Monday, County Council President Kate Stewart said housing conversations will continue, but there is nothing to vote on at this time as the plan just includes ideas and recommendations. If and when a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) is presented, it will go through the normal council legislative process.
Planners recommend zoning changes that would allow duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings in single-family zoned areas, according to the planning department.
Stewart described the plan as “a menu of ideas” and said there are many suggestions — “some of which I agree with, some of which I do not,” she said during a media briefing.
As the county continues conversations around affordable housing and attainable housing, Stewart described the difference between the two terms as affordability relating to area median income, and attainability relating to building homes that are generally more accessible — like adding condos and townhomes which usually cost less than single-family homes.
