A planning change would make it easier to develop housing near transit in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2018, the county adopted a development moratorium intended to prevent overcrowding in schools.
"On July 30, the Montgomery Planning Board voted on a new growth policy known as the Subdivision Staging Policy. If approved by the County Council, the county would — with one exception — no longer ban new housing in areas with overcrowded schools," reports Jane Lyons.
Montgomery County adopted a building moratorium in 2018 (and implemented the moratorium in 2019) in parts of the county, where schools are reportedly overcrowded, like Silver Spring, Wheaton, and part of Bethesda.
According to the analysis of both Lyons and the Planning Board, the moratorium was ineffective for controlling school crowding. [O]ver 70% of school enrollment growth can be attributed to 'neighborhood turnover,' or single-family homes without school-aged children being sold to young families," explains Lyons, citing data from Montgomery Planning.
"However, there are still parts of the county (see: Clarksburg) where new development is the driving force behind enrollment growth. These areas would be classified as 'Greenfield Impact Areas,'" according to Lyons. The new growth policy "would apply an automatic housing moratorium to greenfield areas and raise the moratorium threshold from 120% to 125% projected school utilization." Some exceptions, explained by Lyons, are also included in the Greenfield Impact Areas.
Another key feature of the new growth policy is an allowance for Utilization Premium Payments to be paid by developers in parts of the county where development would potential add students to already crowded schools. Utilization Premium Payments would be "an extra charge on top of the regular tax that developers must pay for school impacts," reports Lyons.
The plan also allows for school impact taxes to be lowered in parts of the county where growth is desired.
FULL STORY: Montgomery County takes a major step toward ending a housing moratorium
For Lack of Schools: Building Moratorium Set to Take Effect
The Montgomery County Council made a few last minute changes to a residential building moratorium that will take effect next week, halting construction in areas around the county's schools.
Montgomery County Growth Plan Approved
The county council approved the much-debated long-range growth plan, preparing the region for a shift toward more mid-density housing and transit-oriented development.
Montgomery County Divided Over Long-Range Plan
In the wake of mass resignations at the county’s planning board, the county council will vote to update their growth plan to reflect the region’s changing economy and demographics.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
