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Somerset Council backs joint letter opposing state housing bill, tasks budget committee to study local fiscal impact
Summary
The Somerset Town Council voted to join a joint letter from 12 Chevy Chase–area municipalities opposing the state 'starter and silver homes act' and directed the town budget committee to assess potential impacts on tax revenue and municipal services, including a scenario of 20–30 additional homes over 5–10 years.
Somerset — The Somerset Town Council voted to support a joint letter from a coalition of 12 Chevy Chase–area municipalities opposing a package of state housing bills, and asked the town’s budget committee to analyze what those laws would mean for local revenue and services.
Council President Bauer told the council the governor is pushing three bills, and said the one drawing the most concern is the "starter and silver homes act," which "very much interferes with municipal and county authority." He warned the bill would limit local setback rules (he cited proposed front setbacks of 10 feet, side distances of 5 feet and lot sizes reduced to about 5,000 square feet) and apply the standards statewide rather than targeting transit areas.
"They're…
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