Council curbs housing growth

Approval of affordable housing projects will be left up to the County Council.

Under the ordinance, affordable housing is defined as units affordable to families earning less than 60 percent of the area’s median income. The median income in Howard County is $120,941, according to the Census Bureau.

Families would qualify if they earn less than $72,564 a year and any housing costs under approximately $1,814 a month would be considered affordable.

Sigaty, who proposed the affordable housing clause, said that while she was pleased with its inclusion, the limits APFO put on development will make the county “more exclusive” to wealthier families.

“This bill is going to have very negative effects on housing affordability in the county,” she said.

Some residents called the affordable housing provision a “loophole” in the law.

Developers can “circumvent the process if they can claim affordable housing,” said Ellicott City resident Jen Spiegel, who has two children in county schools. “I hate that it preyed on people’s emotions on affordable housing. No one is against it, but kids have to have seats.”

Sigaty said the county’s future lawmakers, who will be required to review the ordinance in five years, should carefully consider the accuracy of population projections.

She also said future lawmakers will need to consider new factors such as an increase in multifamily housing and transportation modes.

“I hope people understand the reality that schools only service a third of households,” she said. “APFO is driven by schools, when 70 percent of the population doesn’t have that” need for schools. [e-mail]