County Zoning Recommendations Update No. 2: Attainable Housing Strategies

On April 25, the County Planning Department collaborated with the Planning Board in a work session to discuss strategies to increase the housing supply and broaden housing options across the county. The focus of this session was small-scale attainable housing, which includes the construction of duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, by right, on various residential lots across the County except in the Agricultural Reserve and rural areas.

Key points discussed that are relevant to the Town include:

-- Duplexes (2 units) and triplexes (3 units) could be constructed, by right, on most residential lots in the County, including all lots in the Town.

-- Quadplexes (4 units) could be constructed, by right, on residential lots located within a Priority Housing District, which is an area either within 1 mile of a Metro, Purple Line, or MARC station or within 500 feet of major roads including Connecticut Avenue. The entire Town would be located within a Priority Housing District.

-- Triplexes and quadplexes (now to be referred to as multiplexes) could be arranged horizontally, vertically, or a combination of the two and could include ancillary nonresidential uses, such as a Home Occupation or Family Day Care.

-- All attainable housing developments would abide by municipal building regulations; therefore, the Town would continue to regulate residential parking; the location of housing, including setback requirements; the dimensions of housing, including height, bulk, and massing; and lot coverage, including impervious surfaces.

-- Duplex and multiplex buildings would be built either as condo-co-op style within one commonly owned structure on one lot or as individually owned buildings on a subdivided lot.

The next work session is scheduled for May 16 and will focus on large-scale attainable housing. Further updates from the Town will be provided as they become available. 

Residents are encouraged to send comments to townoffice@townofchevychase.org and/or to the Planning Board at MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org as the Planning Department is reading and tabulating all resident comments.