Reply to MOCO - County Wide Upzoning, Everywhere

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think we maybe need to get some facts straight.

This proposal would allow up to four residences to be built on a lot where just one residence is allowed.  This would mean that an individual or a developer could purchase a SFH lot when it becomes available and build what amounts to a small set of townhomes.  This ASSUMES that all existing setback and other lot coverage rules are maintained.

It is ALREADY allowed to have accessory dwelling units on a SFH property, either detached or attached.  So already you can have multiple families on a lot.

These individual buildings will be relatively expensive.  We are not talking about large apartment blocks with rent-capped units...but townhomes.  Taxes will be paid.

The valid issues to be addressed are parking and school capacity.  Everything else is catastrophizing.[/quote]
There is a lot here that is false or intentionally misleading. Which is typical for you folks. [/quote]

First, can we have a discussion without talking about "you folks" and slinging insults?

Second, I'm happy to be corrected on anything wrong, or for anybody to add needed nuance to the statements.  You know....have a conversation.[/quote]

DP but they’re getting rid of setback requirements. [/quote]
Where have you seen this?  I haven't.  Genuinely curious.[/quote]

I think it’s in the attainable housing strategy. [/quote]

Some of it is in prior MoCo and state initiatives.  Remember, this is a long-planned multi-prong approach, intentionally making it difficult for resudents to understand the full effect of all of the combined changes until it is too late.[/quote]

The assertion is that existing setback requirements are "gotten rid of".

The Attainable Housing Strategy makes multiple references to RETAINING existing setbacks as well as adding a design book to ensure that multi-unit structures are on the same scale as existing SF homes.  One example:  "Furthermore, the Planning Board recommends establishing zoning development standards (setbacks, height, lot size, etc.) for structures with these new housing types that are consistent with the existing standards for single-family detached homes." (p. 60).

Does anybody have an actual citation to anything that indicates a reduction in setback requirements?[/quote]

Not today.  But it will come.

Just as initial docs did not impact SFH lots.  Now, this will.    It's a trickle of changes until they all occur bit by bit overtime.[/quote]

Actually, a just-enacted state law discussed here earlier:

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/Chapters_noln/CH_122_hb0538e.pdf

includes language in section 7-505 that limits restrictions based on setbacks.  It applies to some of the properties now under ZTA consideration by MoCo, and the conditions would stack, there.

That's one example.  There are others.  Priority Housing Districts that MoCo created along the corridors stripped those detached SFH properties from the neighborhoods of which they previously were a part, making several higher-density adjustments.  It's layer upon layer of recent actions that will, together, have the sweeping effects that developer-friendly YIMBYs try to hide by approaching it as a patchwork.[/quote]

Yes, this state law completely shreds local zoning authority and allows developers to almost build whatever they want without regard for community impact. It is a complete handout to the real estate and construction industry that steamrolls local communities. [/quote]

Yup....this is how they take away land from the middle class.  They are destroying the last pillar of obtaining wealth for the middle class.  Ruin neighborhoods and turn everyone into a permanent renter for life. [/quote]

Implicit in your argument is that SFH and owners should always get wealthier on the backs of renters, by virtue of ever-increasing house values.

Finally, you NIMBYs admit it. It's about your money, nothing else.[/quote]

It is 100% about my money and I will shout it from the roofs! [/quote]

Density bros have an almost religious fanaticism that is really difficult to understand. Most people are not against building houses. They just don’t want to be completely trampled over by developers forced to suffer from the consequences. You cannot increase the zoned density by factor of 4-8x and expect everything to just magically work out our. Zoning is the way that localities can ensure that infrastructure capacity matches development patterns. Without responsible zoning decisions the real estate industry will build anything and everything they want to the detriment of local government services, public health, and environmental resources. [/quote]

Dude, infrastructure can, believe it or not, be expanded. It's actually possible, believe it or not, to build stuff to support things. What a concept![/quote]

You must think you're so witty. So here is one for you: just because something makes sense and CAN be done, it doesn't mean it will  be done in MOCO. The MPCS is increasing caps right now on class size. Can they build more schools and hire more teachers? Yes. Will they? No.

The county demographer uses some lame 1960s formula to project enrollment that assumes that very few people in apartment buildings have kids of school age. I happen to leave not far from one of just half a dozen of buildings that are districted to Whitman. EVERYBODY in that building has kids, they rent there because of Whitman specifically.

So you with your humor are cute and all, but so off the mark.[/quote]

This.  Make the change in development legally dependent on financing and build-out of public facilities/infrastructure (or differential funding with demonstrated existing adequate capacities).  [i]Then[i] we can talk about additional densities in places not currently zoned for them.[/quote]

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