Committee advances voluntary MPDU program bill with technical edits; planning department flags code changes needed

The Planning, Housing and Development Committee voted 5–0 on Oct. 16 to move CB 75, a sponsor-led bill creating a voluntary moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) program, out of committee with non-substantive amendments and technical fixes suggested by the planning department.

CB 75 would establish an optional MPDU program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The bill, as drafted, would allow eligible developments of 10 or more single-family dwelling units in a single location to participate in return for incentives like density bonuses, fee reductions and expedited permitting. The draft bill sets a 10% minimum delivery requirement for participating developments; committee staff compared that to Montgomery County's mandatory program, which applies to projects of 20 or more units and generally requires 12.5% to…