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Council adds R‑22 to workforce-housing incentives, advancing projects with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Summary
The Anne Arundel County Council approved an ordinance to allow R‑22 zoned parcels to use workforce housing incentives other than density, enabling certain low-income housing tax credit projects to access parking and fee reductions. Supporters say the change helps move awarded LIHTC projects forward; the bill passed unanimously.
Annapolis, Sept. 2 — The Anne Arundel County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to add the R‑22 residential district to the county’s workforce housing incentives, a narrow zoning change intended to let some Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects use non-density incentives to proceed.
The ordinance, sponsored by Councilmember Pickard, allows projects located in R‑22 zones that already have R‑22 density to access other workforce-housing incentives — such as reduced capital connection fees, adjusted parking minimums, or other program incentives — without requesting a density increase. The goal, supporters said, is to remove procedural barriers for LIHTC projects that have already won state credits.
Why it matters: Developers competing for LIHTC awards sometimes locate on parcels that already have R‑22 density and therefore do not need, and would not benefit from, additional density. Without access to the other workforce incentives, such projects can face financial obstacles to proceeding. The sponsor said the change speeds deployment of affordable housing that has already passed the state credit competition.
Support and testimony Councilmember Pickard said the change is “pretty basic” and helps projects that do not need a density increase access other incentives. Linda Hanifin Bonner of Anne Arundel Connecting Together urged passage and warned of a broader housing affordability problem in Maryland driven by housing costs, saying the county must implement workforce housing policies to retain residents and tax base.
Public comment earlier in the meeting included broader workforce-housing discussion. During the public invitation to the audience, speakers raised concerns about transparency and neighborhood impacts tied to workforce housing proposals. Kyle Nembhard and Jigna Patel urged careful attention to traffic and community engagement for workforce housing proposals; locals said developers sometimes limit outreach to the minimum required by the workforce housing law.
Council action The council opened and closed the public hearing on the ordinance without online testimony and approved the bill by roll call 7-0.
Ending Councilmembers and advocates said the change is one of several tools needed to expand affordable housing; the council approved the bill to give LIHTC-winning projects a clearer path to implementation.
