LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In Howard County, the legacy of Rouse has led to a community that prides itself in its economic and racial integration.
The inclusionary zoning policies that he championed still influence people’s views on the importance of affordable housing.
Unfortunately, continuation of such policies requires stewardship that does not currently exist in today’s Howard County developers.
Instead, such policies are used to create wedge issues during debates of important legislation. This tactic was on full display as the Council voted on the APFO legislation CB1-2018 when affordable issue was used to thwart the bill.
Lo and behold, it worked. If anyone ever doubted the power of developers the outcome of the APFO bill should cement it.
The APFO bill added an “affordable housing” loophole that approves development even if it contains a handful of “affordable homes”, regardless of the overcrowding in area schools.
How can this occur? Developers are very skilled at manipulating regulations. Conceivably a developer proposes a plan with affordable housing while petitioning for an “alternative compliance” that allows little or no affordable housing.
By adding the loophole, the Council approved a perpetual pitting of schools and affordable housing. Ironically, overcrowding disproportionately impacts students from low income families.
Hiruy Hadgu
Savage, MD