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Housing agency to hold public hearing after HUD flags 5-year plan deficiencies; administrative plan revisions posted for comment
Summary
Westminster's housing agency said HUD flagged deficiencies in its draft five-year plan and required a public hearing; HUD granted an extension to September and the agency will publish a notice July 18 with a public hearing expected Sept. 8.
The Westminster housing agency reported that the draft five-year plan it submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in mid-April could not be approved within HUD's initial review period and that HUD provided a list of deficiencies that must be addressed, including the requirement to hold a public hearing.
Housing staff said HUD has 75 calendar days to approve or reject submitted plans; HUD informed the agency on June 25 that it could not approve the draft within that timeframe and provided deficiencies to correct. The agency requested and received an extension until September. Staff said the notice of the required public hearing will be published in the Carroll County Times on July 18 and that the draft five-year plan and notice will be available on the housing office website and at the housing office. A public hearing is expected to be held at the Sept. 8 council meeting; written comments will be accepted through the close of business on Sept. 20, 2025.
Separately, staff described proposed revisions to the housing authority's administrative plan, the operational manual that governs the Housing Choice Voucher program. The revisions reflect recent HUD regulatory changes and the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOPMA), and will reorganize chapters, clarify eligibility and income determination procedures, add a separate chapter on fair housing and equal opportunity provisions, and conform inspection policies to the national INSPIRE standard. Staff said the administrative plan revisions also require a public comment period, which will run concurrently with the five-year plan notice and conclude with the Sept. 8 council meeting.
Housing staff said the agency is classified as a high-performing agency and that the last administrative-plan change was in December 2021. Council members were given the schedule for public notice, comment, and the public hearing, and staff invited questions.
Key dates: Draft five-year plan notice in Carroll County Times on July 18, 2025; public hearing at council meeting on Sept. 8, 2025; written comments accepted through close of business Sept. 20, 2025. The housing director said HUD's list of deficiencies and the administrative changes are being addressed and posted for public comment.
