AHS Update:  Housing Legislation Forthcoming

This is an update from the PRA Committee on Attainable Housing Strategies.

Proposed housing legislation will be posted on the County Council website this week and formally introduced on Tuesday, February 4.  The legislative package has been developed by Council Member Andrew Friedson, working with the chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee, Councilmember Fani-Gonzalez.  In a letter by CM Friedson sent on Tuesday, January 28,2025, the proposals are referred to as the “More Housing N.O.W. (New Options for Workers) package with five bold steps to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and increase pathways to home ownership.”  See Friedson’s letter for details.

Councilmember Stewart, who represents Parkwood, has stated in a letter emailed on Monday, January 27, 2025 discussing the proposed package that based on her “…initial review of the legislation, I believe the proposed legislation moves us in the right direction to address our housing needs, especially for working families such as our teachers, firefighters, nurses, and police officers.” 

In her letter she goes on to say “…it also addresses many concerns raised by community members”, such as “considering infrastructure capacity,  building housing near transit, parking in single family neighborhoods, focusing on affordability, including office to residential conversions, and prioritizing public input and not permitting ‘by right’ construction.” 

She states further that these proposals “… will go through the full process of review at the Council…”  and that she looks forward “…to discussing the details with you, and if there are ways we can improve the legislation I want to have those conversations with you.”

See CM Stewart’s letter here.