County Council Introduces "More Housing N.O.W." Legislation to Expand Workforce Housing Options

Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-Gonzalez, along with four co-sponsors, including Council President Kate Stewart, have introduced ZTA 25-02, known as the More Housing N.O.W. (New Options for Workers) legislation. This proposal would permit the construction of duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and apartment buildings up to 40 feet in height through an optional method of development along designated corridors.

It is important to note that this proposed ZTA would not permit the development of multi-family housing by right, anywhere in neighborhoods that are currently zoned for single-family homes, such as the Town.

Key provisions of the legislation include:

Impacted Areas Within the Town: This legislation would only affect lots directly adjacent to Connecticut Avenue and East-West Highway.
Approval Process: The optional method of development requires the Planning Department and the Planning Board to review and approve the development project, and this, in turn, requires a public process that allows for community engagement.
Building Height Limits: Structures will be capped at 40 feet in height.
Workforce Housing Requirement: Any development with three or more units must allocate at least 15% as workforce housing, available to households earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI). Currently, this equates to approximately $148,000 for a two-person household or $185,000 for a family of four.

Beyond zoning changes, the legislation introduces additional measures to support housing affordability, including:

A $4 million Workforce Housing Opportunity Fund
Expedited approvals and a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to convert high-vacancy commercial properties into residential buildings.
A doubling of the County's Housing Initiative Fund (HIP) investment to $8 million.

The Town Council has submitted clarification questions to Councilmember Friedson.

Residents are encouraged to email the townoffice@townofchevychase.org with any questions or feedback as a County Council Public Hearing is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 11.