|
Planning
Board Announces Start of "Green Tape" Approvals
for Affordable Housing
The Chairman
of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission,
Derick P. Berlage, announced the initiation of an expedited
development approval process for affordable housing projects
in Montgomery County, to be called the "green tape process
for affordable housing."
Berlage has
frequently expressed the Montgomery County Planning Board's
concerns about the critical need for more housing units that
are affordable to citizens whose incomes prevent them from purchasing
market rate housing. Eligible projects will include any application
for residential or mixed-use development that designates at
least 20 percent of the total number of housing units to persons
or families with incomes at or below the income level for moderately
priced dwelling units (MPDUs) as provided in the Montgomery
County Code.
"Since production of new MPDU's has decreased in the past
few years, the need for other types of affordable housing becomes
even more important," said Berlage. "Finding creative
ways to increase our supply of affordable housing is one of
my highest priorities as Chairman. We want our teachers, police
officers and restaurant workers to be able to live and work
within the County. Housing most of our own workforce can help
a great deal with our transportation challenges by reducing
commuting distances and congestion on our roads."
Berlage is directing the staffs of M-NCPPC's Montgomery County
Department of Park and Planning to coordinate and streamline
their detailed plan review work to assure an expedited development
approval process for affordable housing projects.
Among the expected changes to be included in the "Green
Tape" process are:
--modified application forms for subdivisions, project plans
and site plans to identify affordable housing projects;
--an expedited review process for applications;
--improved communications between the reviewing agencies;
-- creation of a geographic information system map overlay of
green tape applications for easy identification of these projects;
--expedited construction permits and utilities permits processing.
>Contact
Development Review
>Back
to: > Our
website - home > Development
Review - home
|
|
|
Print
Help
Translate