This is an update from the PRA Committee on Attainable Housing Strategies.
The County Council began its 2025 legislative session on January 14. As of January 20, no legislation had been introduced specifically addressing what actions the Council should take regarding the Attainable Housing Strategies [AHS], as drafted by the County’s Planning Board. [Residents can review all PRA News articles about the AHS here.]
However, some Councilmembers have recently made public statements about the AHS. As reported in a previous PRA News article, CM Jawando has urged the Council to “pause” its deliberations of the AHS proposals based on the “…outpouring of concern from the community regarding the recommendations”. That same article noted that CM Kate Stewart is committed to “…boosting the availability of housing and affordable housing, especially along our transit corridors and near job centers.” CM Mink has stated that “Tackling the housing affordability crisis is necessary and urgent, but we have other, better tools available than the AHS’s far-reaching and relatively low-yield recommendations.” [See this PRA News article.]. CM Friedson said in a public session with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Breakfast Club that while the County does have a housing challenge, the Council should focus on the areas that would have the biggest impact such as the Growth Corridors. He also expressed concern about the effect that some of the proposals could have on infrastructure, parking, and the environment.
However, other organizations have continued to express support for the AHS proposals. For example Greater Greater Washington [GGW] has stated on its website that “…last week, two Montgomery County councilmembers called for “a pause” on Attainable Housing Strategies, a set of recommendations the County Council’s reviewing to legalize lower-cost house types–like duplexes, townhomes, and apartments–that aren’t allowed in most of the county today. … We still think it’s important for councilmembers to hear from people like you who want them to do something about high housing costs, because they’re hearing from a lot of people who feel differently.” GGW urged its members to write to Councilmembers to express support for the proposals but unfortunately the link to the sample letter was disabled.
The Coalition for Smarter Growth, long a supporter of the AHS proposals, stated on its webpage that “The housing crisis is real, it is here today, and cannot be ignored. We encourage the Council to carry on its work on the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative. The AHSI is based on years of research and community outreach, and the time to act is now.”
Finally, the Montgomery County Civic Federation [MCCF], of which the PRA is a member, noted that a majority of the 11 Councilmembers have not yet expressed their opinions publicly. In a legislative alert, the MCCF repeated its concerns with the AHS proposals, citing its resolution of November 2024 and its accompanying letter to the Council. It urged residents to “ask the Council to suspend consideration of this ill-conceived proposal.”
In keeping with the purposes of the PRA AHS Committee to provide timely, objective, and balanced information about the AHS to Parkwood residents, we have included in this article links or excerpts from groups that have varying opinions about the AHS proposals.
In accordance with its guidelines, the PRA committee will not take a position pro or con. However, we urge residents to decide for themselves what they think about the AHS proposals and write to the Councilmembers listed below to express their views about this initiative.
The email addresses for all 11 members of the Council are here.
councilmember.jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.albornoz@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.sayles@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.katz@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.mink@montgomerycountymd.gov
councilmember.fani-gonzalez@montgomerycountymd.gov
Parkwood Residents Association 