Montgomery County zoning: Council wants to change zoning throughout the county to multi-family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

People who live on a tiny lot are not the ones who are going to build ADU. It's the folks who live on an acre in Potomac who are more likely to build ADUs.

No one on the 1 -2 acre lots is going to build an ADU and invite low income people to live in Potomac. Please stop smoking bee pollen. Retiree's in Potomac change their residency to Florida to avoid taxes or sell and move into expensive condos somewhere. Developers may build more THs there but they will be luxury TH for divorced wealthy people or young families seeking the Churchill cluster. None of them will be low income or even close to it.

Does it have to be for low income people?

In any case, I still don't think the "poorer" areas with tiny lots have the room or money to build an ADU on those lots.

PP here... From the article, it's not about renting to low income but more about inlaws, disabled adult children, etc.. living in close proximity to family. Article doesn't say anything about it must be for low income people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

People who live on a tiny lot are not the ones who are going to build ADU. It's the folks who live on an acre in Potomac who are more likely to build ADUs.

No one on the 1 -2 acre lots is going to build an ADU and invite low income people to live in Potomac. Please stop smoking bee pollen. Retiree's in Potomac change their residency to Florida to avoid taxes or sell and move into expensive condos somewhere. Developers may build more THs there but they will be luxury TH for divorced wealthy people or young families seeking the Churchill cluster. None of them will be low income or even close to it.

Does it have to be for low income people?

In any case, I still don't think the "poorer" areas with tiny lots have the room or money to build an ADU on those lots.

PP here... From the article, it's not about renting to low income but more about inlaws, disabled adult children, etc.. living in close proximity to family. Article doesn't say anything about it must be for low income people.

DP

A good percentage will be ADUs being rented to lower income people. Simply because people will do it to pay less rent. Which is the whole point, according to County leadership.

Also, in our neighborhood, most of the accessory apartments already in place are being illegally rented out for cash. This will surely be the case with the new units as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

People who live on a tiny lot are not the ones who are going to build ADU. It's the folks who live on an acre in Potomac who are more likely to build ADUs.

No one on the 1 -2 acre lots is going to build an ADU and invite low income people to live in Potomac. Please stop smoking bee pollen. Retiree's in Potomac change their residency to Florida to avoid taxes or sell and move into expensive condos somewhere. Developers may build more THs there but they will be luxury TH for divorced wealthy people or young families seeking the Churchill cluster. None of them will be low income or even close to it.

Does it have to be for low income people?

In any case, I still don't think the "poorer" areas with tiny lots have the room or money to build an ADU on those lots.

PP here... From the article, it's not about renting to low income but more about inlaws, disabled adult children, etc.. living in close proximity to family. Article doesn't say anything about it must be for low income people.

DP

A good percentage will be ADUs being rented to lower income people. Simply because people will do it to pay less rent. Which is the whole point, according to County leadership.

Also, in our neighborhood, most of the accessory apartments already in place are being illegally rented out for cash. This will surely be the case with the new units as well.

I can see basement units being more popular than stand alone ADUs, but IMO, I still don't think that many people have the means to build out legal ADUs. About 35 years ago my dad built out an attached ADU out west. It wasn't that cheap to build. The illegal ones are shoddily done, and that happens now, and may continue to happen in the future anyways.

I don't think the volume is going to be much since even the County said this is not a solution to affordable housing.

[Anonymous]

Let’s do this! More density will make the DMV a better place to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s do this! More density will make the DMV a better place to live.

Definitely better for the slum landlords that are already investing in the County! Don’t people want MoCO to be more ‘business-friendly’? Here we go. More illegal rentals, more cash only ADUs, more cars along the streets, more kids in already overcrowded schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I for one am adding an ADU (well technically the only owner did but never made it legal). Can’t wait to generate income from renting the basement apartment...

Why can't you do this already? If you have a basement apartment, bring it up to code and you can easily rent it. In MoCo, you can make a good amount of money. Post on Craigslist or NextDoor and you'll get a ton of responses. And, get the rental license.

You don't need to wait for the new zoning law.

You can't currently do it legally, in most parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I for one am adding an ADU (well technically the only owner did but never made it legal). Can’t wait to generate income from renting the basement apartment...

Why can't you do this already? If you have a basement apartment, bring it up to code and you can easily rent it. In MoCo, you can make a good amount of money. Post on Craigslist or NextDoor and you'll get a ton of responses. And, get the rental license.

You don't need to wait for the new zoning law.

You can't currently do it legally, in most parts of the county.

That isn't true. It can be done legally. Lots of landlords don't apply to get a license. This may be because they don't think they should have to, or they don't want to pay the application fee, or they don't want to pay tax on their rental income. But in many cases, I suspect it is also because basements, especially in older houses, do not always meet the required dimensions to get a permit to be rentals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I for one am adding an ADU (well technically the only owner did but never made it legal). Can’t wait to generate income from renting the basement apartment...

Why can't you do this already? If you have a basement apartment, bring it up to code and you can easily rent it. In MoCo, you can make a good amount of money. Post on Craigslist or NextDoor and you'll get a ton of responses. And, get the rental license.

You don't need to wait for the new zoning law.

You can't currently do it legally, in most parts of the county.

That isn't true. It can be done legally. Lots of landlords don't apply to get a license. This may be because they don't think they should have to, or they don't want to pay the application fee, or they don't want to pay tax on their rental income. But in many cases, I suspect it is also because basements, especially in older houses, do not always meet the required dimensions to get a permit to be rentals.

Yes, it is.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/licensing/FY20_Class3_Accessory_Apartment_Information(1).pdf

[Anonymous]

I understand the Council made up its mind to do this, public opinion notwithstanding. The only thing they're debating about is whether your ADU should be fenced off from the neighbor's property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I for one am adding an ADU (well technically the only owner did but never made it legal). Can’t wait to generate income from renting the basement apartment...

Why can't you do this already? If you have a basement apartment, bring it up to code and you can easily rent it. In MoCo, you can make a good amount of money. Post on Craigslist or NextDoor and you'll get a ton of responses. And, get the rental license.

You don't need to wait for the new zoning law.

You can't currently do it legally, in most parts of the county.

That isn't true. It can be done legally. Lots of landlords don't apply to get a license. This may be because they don't think they should have to, or they don't want to pay the application fee, or they don't want to pay tax on their rental income. But in many cases, I suspect it is also because basements, especially in older houses, do not always meet the required dimensions to get a permit to be rentals.

Yes, it is.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/licensing/FY20_Class3_Accessory_Apartment_Information(1).pdf

When I click the link, there is nothing there. But why you are insisting that a legal basement apartment rental cannot be done in MoCo, I have no idea. Maybe you are referring to out of date information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the Council made up its mind to do this, public opinion notwithstanding. The only thing they're debating about is whether your ADU should be fenced off from the neighbor's property.

I don't think Albornoz's fence amendment passed. He actually said that if your neighbor puts up a detached ADU, it will be an infringement on you. But he seems prepared to vote for it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, bad link. Use this: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/licensing/FY20_Class3_Accessory_Apartment_Information(1).pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the Council made up its mind to do this, public opinion notwithstanding. The only thing they're debating about is whether your ADU should be fenced off from the neighbor's property.

I don't think Albornoz's fence amendment passed. He actually said that if your neighbor puts up a detached ADU, it will be an infringement on you. But he seems prepared to vote for it anyway.

I don't think it did either. And yes, it sounds like he'll vote for it - or, anyway, that he expects it to be approved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the Council made up its mind to do this, public opinion notwithstanding. The only thing they're debating about is whether your ADU should be fenced off from the neighbor's property.

What do you mean, public opinion notwithstanding? There are certainly people who oppose the idea, but there are also plenty of people who support it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, bad link. Use this: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/licensing/FY20_Class3_Accessory_Apartment_Information(1).pdf

Darn it, still bad.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/licensing/FY20_Class3_Accessory_Apartment_Information(1).pdf

Or go here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhca/housing/licensing/accessory_apartment.html

and click on the Accessory Apartment - Class 3 Accessory Apartment Requirement Information hyperlink.