Council adopts temporary moratorium on multifamily residential zoning applications

St. Charles County Council voted June 29 to adopt an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on multifamily residential zoning applications within unincorporated areas of the county.

The ordinance (bill 5496) was presented for final passage after lengthy debate. Council members raised opposing views about duration and scope: Councilman Brazzle urged removing the six-month expiration to leave the moratorium open-ended pending master-plan work, while other members and county attorneys said local law limits moratoria and that a set date is required. Ultimately the council included a time-limited moratorium consistent with legal guidance and approved the measure by roll call.

Councilmembers discussed whether the county’s infrastructure—particularly utilities such as water and sewer—supports multifamily development. Some members said apartment construction has been rare in the county (one project in roughly two decades) and noted that municipal utilities in cities make high-density construction more feasible there. Others said the master-plan draft shows higher-density designations in some areas, prompting questions about plan-consistency and whether small-lot subdivision rules could produce similar density effects.

During debate, members emphasized the moratorium’s purpose: temporarily pause multifamily zoning approvals so the council and planning staff can review implications for the county’s master plan, infrastructure, and land-use goals. The final roll call recorded unanimous approval: Councilman Swanson, Councilman Brazzle, Councilman Hammond, Councilman Elum, Councilman Hollander, Councilwoman York and Councilman Baker voted "yes."

What’s next: The moratorium is time-limited under the ordinance; council members said they will revisit the issue when the legal window requires another action or when master-plan work advances.