Section 5 council presses for clarification of municipal authority in response to AHSI

During the Oct. 8 meeting, Chair Greg Chernack and Vice Chair Josh Galper updated residents on the council's recent outreach concerning the County's Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative (AHSI).

Chernack said he and Vice Chair Galper attended a breakfast meeting with County Council President Andrew Friedson to share residents' concerns about the plan; the council invited Friedson to the Section's October meeting but received no response. The council separately invited each County Council member to participate in private walking tours of Section 5 to highlight infrastructure and neighborhood concerns related to housing proposals.

The Section is coordinating with neighboring Chevy Chase municipalities on a draft letter to the Maryland State Delegation proposing a technical amendment to Md. Code, Land Use Article, Sec. 20-509, intended to clarify municipal regulatory authority while preserving flexibility for municipalities interested in allowing more multifamily housing. The minutes say Senator Waldstreicher and Delegates Kaufman, Shetty, and Solomon have expressed support for the proposed amendment. Councilmember Sean Downey noted that At-Large Councilmember Evan Glass has already visited Section 5.

The council approved the most recent draft of the letter by email prior to the meeting and said it will continue to coordinate with municipal counsel Ron Bolt and neighboring municipalities on next steps. Residents present later engaged the council during this update, according to the minutes.