Annapolis, MD (June 3, 2019) Launching a landmark transformation in fair and affordable housing policy in the county, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman will introduce the first two bills of a major housing initiative at Monday evening’s County Council meeting. The County Executive worked very closely with members of the County Council to draft the legislation.
“Anne Arundel County has seen a boom in luxury housing construction that has left young people, seniors, and regular working folks with nowhere to go,” said County Executive Pittman. “This county council knows that it’s time to act, and today’s fair housing and workforce housing bills are a great start.”
The first bill establishes a fair housing ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on “age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, occupation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income.” Anne Arundel County is the only county in the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s Regional Fair Housing Group without a local fair housing law.
The ACLU of Maryland sent a letter to Anne Arundel County on September 24, 2018, citing numerous concerns about the ability of the county to meet its federal fair housing obligations. The letter was cosigned by representatives of Disability Rights Maryland, Homeless Persons Representation Project and Public Justice Center.
Councilwoman Sarah Lacey (District 1) is the lead Council sponsor for the fair housing legislation and worked closely with the Administration and Council staff to craft the bill.
“As an attorney who has fought in court for civil rights and consumer protections, I am proud to contribute to this bill. I believe housing is a human right,” said Lacey.
The second bill expands opportunities to create workforce housing in the county. Workforce housing is defined as housing that is affordable to households earning 60 to 100 percent of the area median income. Currently, workforce housing is only allowed in the county by special exception within the zoning code. In 2015, the County Council, by a 4-3 vote, further limited workforce housing by removing it from several residential zoning classifications.
The new legislation will change workforce housing from a special exception use to a conditional use, and allow it in medium density residential (R5) zones, as well as mixed use zones, and certain commercial and industrial zones. Council Chairman Andrew Pruski (District 4) is the lead sponsor for the workforce housing legislation.
“We need more housing in our county for teachers, police, firefighters and others that are the backbone of our local workforce,” said Chairman Pruski. “I am pleased that we are reversing the harmful policy decisions of the past and finally moving forward in meeting our workforce housing needs.”
Advocates say that good housing is out of reach for many county residents. The most recent data, from April 2019, shows the average home sale price was more than $400,000, according to the Maryland Association of Realtors.
In addition to the two bills being introduced on June 3, the Administration is working with Councilwoman Allison Pickard (District 2) and Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien (District 6) to draft legislation concerning moderately priced dwelling units and establishing an affordable housing trust fund.
“Making housing fair and affordable to people of all income levels is a signature issue for Anne Arundel County,” said Pittman. “Housing discrimination will no longer be tolerated in our county.”
County Executive Pittman will discuss his housing agenda on June 6 at the Anne Arundel County Affordable Housing Coalition Summer Event in Glen Burnie.