County Council votes to ignore master sector plan density guidelines

Check out the post and discussion on the MoCo Progressive blog. Below is an excellent explanation by Forest Estates resident Adam Pagnucco: This blog (MoCo Progressive, usually a good read) refers to the Council's workforce housing bill, passed in July. The bill is Ordinance 15-77, Zoning Text Amendment 05-16, and you can read it at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2006/15-77.pdf. When the bill was passed, it received substantial media coverage by requiring developers of housing around Metro sites to set aside 10% of the units as "workforce housing." This housing category was intended for families making less than 120% of median county income. However, what received less attention was that the bill allowed the developers to exceed master plan density limits by 10%. So, the workforce housing would not depress the developers' profits because they could build 10% more units around Metro stations than would have been otherwise allowed. Council members Praisner and Andrews attempted to amend the bill by eliminating the 10% extra density allowance. Their motion failed by 2-7. The overall bill then passed 9-0 and now applies to all Metro stations. The Forest Glen Sector Plan, passed in 1996, sets two zoning options for housing on the FG Metro station. The first option, RT-12.5, allows for 12.5 townhouses per acre. The second option, PD18, allows for a "planned development" of 18 units per acre. About this second option, the plan states, "Additional density may be appropriate if all additional units are MPDUs [Moderately Priced Dwelling Units]. The PD Zone requires site approval and permits detailed examination of design and traffic issues as a basis for approval of the zone. The PD Zone would also require an approval of a Development Plan." (pg. 27) The master plan recommends that if the developer chooses the PD18 option, the development should have buildings of a "low scale," should provide a public open space and should have streetscaping along Forest Glen Road. I do not know which option EYA or the other bidders are considering, but whichever way they go, they can now tack on 10% to the master plan's density limit - Adam Pagnucco, Dameron.