§ 25A-2. Declaration of public policy.

The County Council hereby declares it to be the public policy of the County to:

(1) encourage and maintain a wide choice of housing types and neighborhoods for people of all incomes, ages, lifestyles, and physical capabilities at appropriate locations and densities and to implement policies to bridge housing affordability gaps;

(2) make housing that is affordable to low, moderate, and middle-income households a priority in all parts of the County;

(3) ensure that all master plan and sector plan amendments address the need for housing for low, moderate, and middle-income households and promote specific strategies to meet that need including height and density incentives and flexibility;

(4) implement policies that increase the long-term supply of rental housing affordable to low and moderate-income households, particularly in areas that are easily accessible to transit;

(5) require that all subdivisions of 20 or more dwelling units include a minimum number of moderately priced dwelling units on-site, or under certain specified circumstances, provide appropriate units off-site or make a payment to the Housing Initiative Fund;

(6) allow the Department of Housing and Community Affairs and developers flexibility to enter into affordable housing agreements that address the needs for housing units of different sizes and bedroom counts to better meet the needs of low and moderate-income households; and

(7) allow developers of residential units more opportunity to comply with this Chapter and meet the County’s objective of building housing affordable to low and moderate-income households by contributing to the Housing Initiative Fund, alternative location agreements, and flexible development standards that promote production and diversity of housing units. (1974 L.M.C., ch. 17, § 1; 1989 L.M.C., ch. 27, § 1; , § 1; , § 1; , § 1.)