Citing the need to increase the pipeline of affordable housing, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman is making a strong, second-term push to pass inclusionary housing legislation.
Council Bill 78-23 would require residential development and redevelopment projects that create 10 or more housing units, to enroll 10% of for-sale units and 15% of rental units in a new Anne Arundel County Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program. Sales prices would be set to be affordable for a four-person household earning 80% of the Baltimore area median income and 75% of the area median for rental units. Rental units would be controlled by the MPDU program for 40 years, and for-sale units for 20 years.
A recent affordable housing needs assessment commissioned by Arundel Community Development Services Inc. estimated that maximum rents for units that could be affordable for households earning 80% of the area median income (slightly higher than rents allowed under the proposed legislation), would be $1,637 for a one-bedroom unit, $1,960 for a two-bedroom unit and $2,252 for a three-bedroom unit.
To offset costs associated with the MPDUs, the legislation permits the Planning and Zoning Officer to grant bonus density of up to 10% above the maximum permitted density for for-sale units and 15% above the maximum permitted density for rental units. Other MPDU incentives include a 50% reduction in water and sewer connection charges and a full exemption from impact fees.
The Anne Arundel County Council will hold a public hearing on the MPDU legislation on November 6.