|
Montgomery County Council Meets on April 2 to Vote on Zoning Measure to Remove Barriers for Affordable Housing Adjacent to Places of Worship and Nearly $20 Million to Preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing |
|
Also on April 2: Council to vote on legislation to align operating hours for hookah lounges with establishments that serve alcohol and the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment and review the FY25-30 CIP for Montgomery County Public Schools |
|
For Immediate Release: April 1, 2024 |
|
|
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first proclamation, led by Councilmember Sidney Katz, will recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month. The second, led by Council President Andrew Friedson and County Executive Marc Elrich, will recognize Fair Housing Month.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Montgomery County Public Schools FY25-30 CIP
Review: The Council will review the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the recommendations of the Council’s Education and Culture (EC) Committee. The EC Committee held four meetings to review the MCPS FY25-30 CIP and focused on strengthening investments in systemic infrastructure across the school system and pursuing a schedule of CIP programming for individual school projects that is sustainable and avoids repeated delays and deferrals in future CIP cycles, to the extent possible. The committee recommendations can be found on pages four and five of the Council staff report.
The Board of Education’s proposed FY25-30 CIP includes 36 projects. The requested total is nearly $2 billion. This level of funding is $91.8 million, or 4.8 percent, higher than the FY23-28 amended CIP of $1.91 billion. The requested CIP includes three new projects at Mill Creek Towne Elementary School, James Hubert Blake High School and Paint Branch High School. In addition, the request includes five new major capital projects at Eastern Middle School, Cold Spring Elementary School, Damascus Elementary School, Twinbrook Elementary School and Whetstone Elementary School.
Expedited Bill 3-24, Late Night Establishments - Hours of Operation
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 3-24, Late Night Establishments - Hours of Operation, which would define a hookah lounge, set restrictions on the operating hours for certain late-night establishments and establish penalties for a violation. The legislation would align the hours of operation for hookah lounges, smoke shops and vape shops to mirror those for establishments where alcohol is consumed.
Expedited Bill 3-24 is intended to help address late night public safety issues. There has been an increase in the number of arrests, police presence in central business districts and excess overtime expenditures for the Montgomery County Police Department.
The lead sponsors of Expedited Bill 3-24 are Council Vice President Kate Stewart and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Evan Glass. Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Katz, Natali Fani-González, Marilyn Balcombe and Council President Friedson are cosponsors.
The joint Public Safety (PS) and Economic Development (ECON) Committee recommends approval with amendments.
|
|
|
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, April 2, which is available on the Council website.
Amendment to the FY23-28 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Special Appropriation and Amendment to the FY24 Capital Budget: Montgomery County Government, Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Nonprofit Preservation Fund, $19,999,000
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on a nearly $20 million amendment to the FY23-28 CIP and special appropriation and amendment to the FY24 Capital Budget for the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA). The appropriation is needed to provide funding for the newly created Nonprofit Preservation Fund (NPF) CIP, which will be used to preserve existing affordable housing in areas at risk of rent escalation to higher market rents.
On May 25, 2023, the Council approved Resolution 20-175 to create the NPF CIP and authorize up to $20 million in loan payment proceeds received by the County in FY23 or FY24 as reserved for the new fund. On July 18, 2023, the Council approved a CIP
amendment to create the NPF CIP project. In Feb. 2024, the County and the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) completed a memorandum of understanding to manage the new fund. The subject amendment and special appropriation now formally authorizes the appropriation of the initial $20 million to fund the NPF.
The Nonprofit Preservation Fund (NPF) CIP will be used to provide capital lending to nonprofit entities to support acquisitions and preservation to ensure continued affordability of the County's existing affordable housing stock. The Fund is modeled after the County's Housing Production Fund (HPF), a $100 million revolving loan facility administered by the HOC. Funds are expected to revolve based on refinancing or redevelopment financing.
As part of the FY25-30 Recommended Housing CIP review on Feb. 26, 2024, the Council's Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee voted to approve this project as recommended, which included the special appropriation. On March 19, 2024, the Council held a preliminary straw vote to approve this project in the FY25-30 CIP as recommended by the PHP Committee.
|
|
|
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
Supplemental Appropriation #24-67 to the FY24 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of General Services, BlackRock Center for the Arts, $260,000
Special Appropriation to the FY24 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Finance, Economic Development Fund, New J.O.B.S. Initiative (Jobs, Opportunities & Business Support), $20,000,000
Supplemental Appropriation #24-40 to the FY24 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, IAFF COVID Booster Vaccinations, $134,190
|
|
|
Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on a resolution to approve the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment and the recommendations of the PHP Committee. At a meeting held on March 12, the Council reviewed the recommendations of the PHP Committee, and at a meeting held on March 19, took straw votes in support of all changes to the plan.
The plan makes recommendations to improve quality of life, guide future development and encourage improvements to the natural and built environments within the plan area. A minor master plan amendment, like the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment, revisits a specific portion of the approved and adopted master plan and reexamines certain elements, often to address a change that was not anticipated at the time the adopted master plan was approved. This plan amendment would update portions of the 2000 Takoma Park Master Plan with the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment.
This amendment re-envisions the areas within the plan boundary that include the Washington Adventist Hospital and University Campuses, the Erie Center (located at the intersection of Flower Ave. and Erie Ave.), multi-family properties, parks and the Takoma Park Community Center located along Maple Ave. The plan boundary was determined by the Montgomery County Planning Board in coordination with the City of Takoma Park. The plan boundary was approved by the Planning Board on Sept. 30, 2021. The Council held a public hearing on the plan at Takoma Park Middle School on Jan. 25.
In recent years, the Council and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) have approved and adopted two sector plans for communities in Takoma Park and adjacent areas. These include the 2012 Takoma-Langley Crossroads Sector Plan and the 2013 Long Branch Sector Plan. These plans, in addition to the 2021 Retail in Diverse Communities Study, have informed the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment process.
On Dec. 13, 2023, the City of Takoma Park voted 6-1 to approve a resolution supporting the Planning Board Draft of the Takoma Park Master Plan Amendment. The Council held a public hearing on the Planning Board Draft on Jan. 25, 2024. Following the public hearing, the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee met on Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and March 4 to review the plan and make recommendations to the full Council. The Committee strengthened the recommendations for preservation of affordable housing and recommended increasing the requirement for new development to provide a minimum of 15 percent of all new units as Moderately Priced Dwelling Units.
The Council held a worksession to review the recommendations of the PHP Committee on March 12 and took straw votes in support of all changes to the plan on March 19. On Monday, March 25, the City of Takoma Park issued a letter outlining its support for the Council-amended plan.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 24-01, Household Living - Civic and Institutional Uses
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 24-01, Household Living – Civic and Institutional Uses. The zoning measure, which is also known as the Facilitating Affordable Inclusive Transformational Housing (FAITH) ZTA, would remove barriers to the creation of affordable housing and provide reasonable flexibility in the development standards for multi-unit and townhouse living on properties associated with faith and educational institutions. The ZTA would allow religious assembly use and the educational institution (private) use to build affordable townhouses and apartments in residential detached zones.
The lead sponsors of ZTA 24-01 are Council Vice President Stewart and Council President Friedson. Councilmembers Fani-González, Glass, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Kristin Mink, Luedtke, Balcombe, Albornoz, Katz and Will Jawando are cosponsors of ZTA 24-01.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHP) Committee recommends approval with amendments.
Amendments to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan: Water and Sewer Category Change Requests
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on seven category change requests to the County’s Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for assembling, reviewing and processing category change amendments. Eight of the requests are within the Glen Hills Study Area within the Potomac Subregion Master Plan Area and are seeking public sewer service via the Potomac Peripheral Sewer Service Policy. Recommendations from the Planning Board and the County Executive are included in the staff report for each request.
The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends approval with amendments.
Interview with the County Executive’s nominee for director, UpCounty Regional Services Center: Ruben Rosario
Interview: The Council will conduct an interview with Ruben Rosario, who is the County Executive’s nominees for director of the UpCounty Regional Services Center.
|
|
FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program |
|
|
Circuit Court
Review: The Council will review the FY25-30 CIP for the Circuit Court, which contains one $2 million project for the design and replacement of audio-visual systems in 18 South Tower courtrooms. These systems support remote hearings, assisted listening for individuals with hearing loss, translation technology for non-English speakers and they allow for the electronic capture of the Court record. The system will be integrated within each room to facilitate effective communication, evidence display, and collaboration during court hearings, trials and remote interactions.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
Review: The Council will review the more than $125 million FY25-30 CIP for MCFRS, which includes nine projects and represents a $644,000 decrease from the FY23-28 amended CIP. Over the six-year period, the projects include more than $68 million for the Apparatus Replacement Program, more than $1 million for the Breathing Air Compressors Replacement, $801,000 for the Female Facility Upgrade, nearly $660,000 for life safety systems in fire stations, more than $12 million for HVAC and electrical upgrades, more than $2.4 million for roof replacements, more than $36 million for the White Flint Fire Station, less than $2.5 million for resurfacing projects, and $500,000 for renovations at the Rockville fire station.
Recreation - Western County Recreation Center
Review: The Council will review the FY25-30 CIP for the Western County Recreation Center, which would provide for the design and construction of a new community facility to the serve the Poolesville area. The Town of Poolesville currently has limited access to County services due to its location in the Agricultural Reserve. The new facility would allow local community groups and County departments to improve and expand programming. If approved and constructed, the facility would accommodate a recreation center with a multi-purpose room, social hall, gymnasium and a medical suite to support community health initiatives. Currently, the program of requirements for the facility has not been finalized and the $15.5 million in costs included in the CIP are based on a proposed facility with an estimated 15,000 gross square feet.
Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center
Review: The Council will review the more than $38 million FY25-30 CIP recommended by the County Executive for the Wheaton Arts Cultural Center. This project provides for planning, site feasibility, design and construction for a new 40,000-square-foot arts and cultural facility to be located in the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District. The project is proposed to be co-located with a mixed-income, multi-family development project to be developed by Montgomery Housing Partnership. The Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center would be located on the ground floor. The FY 25-30 CIP maintains the same funding schedule for the project as listed in the FY23-28 amended approved CIP, with expenditures previously listed as beyond six years moved into FY29 and FY30.
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
Review: The Council will review the FY25-30 CIP for the M-NCPPC, which includes a request for $319.7 million in funding, which is an increase of more than $23 million, or 7.9 percent, over the amended FY23-28 CIP. The County Executive’s recommended M-NCPPC budget is $303 million, which is a 2.3 percent increase from the previously approved budget. It includes approximately $7.5 million in FY24 funds shifting to FY25-30 for the Pollution Prevention and Stream Protection projects. The Executive’s recommended affordability reconciliation represents a 7.9 percent decrease in the budget requested by M-NCPPC, or a reduction of more than $24 million.
The CIP consists of 38 projects, which include two new projects and 36 ongoing projects. The new projects include the Silver Spring Park Benefit Payment, which would be used for acquisition of new parkland and the development of park facilities on new and existing parks to serve the Silver Spring downtown and adjacent communities’ area. The other new project is the Lyttonsville Civic Green, which would provide for a new park at 2205 Kansas Avenue to serve as a rest stop with amenities along the Capital Crescent Trail and the Purple Line light rail.
|
|
|
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
|
|
Contact:
Sonya Healy
240-777-7926
Sonya.Healy@montgomerycountymd.gov
|
Additional Contact:
Benjamin Sky Brandt
240-777-7884
Benjamin.Brandt@montgomerycountymd.gov
|
|
|
|
|
