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Section 5 presses for clear language on State Bill MC 116-25 as county housing plans draw scrutiny
Summary
Section 5 council members and their land-use attorney described ongoing talks over a technical amendment to State Bill MC 116-25 and voiced concern about the scope of Montgomery County’s Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative; no formal AHSI legislation has been introduced.
The Section 5 Council discussed efforts to secure a technical amendment to State Bill MC 116-25 that would clarify municipal land‑use authority, and council members described county planning proposals for multi‑family housing that have prompted local concern.
Chair Greg Chernack said area municipalities were meeting that evening with the State Delegation and Montgomery County Planning Board representatives to work on specific wording for the bill. The Section’s municipal attorney, Ron Bolt, represented Section 5 in those meetings, and the Section’s land‑use attorney Michele Rosenfeld said some county delegates have expressed reluctance to support language that could interfere with potential state or county housing initiatives.
"At this time, no formal AHSI legislation has been introduced," Rosenfeld said, adding that timing is difficult to predict but that the county’s Thrive Montgomery Master Plan had previously prioritized creating "missing middle" housing. Rosenfeld said Section 5 is aiming for language that clarifies the Section’s current municipal authority rather than blocking county or state initiatives.
Council members described recent outreach to county officials. Since the December meeting, the council hosted Montgomery County Council Vice President Will Jawando and Councilmember Andrew Friedson on separate walking tours of the Section; Chernack said both acknowledged residents’ concerns. Chernack noted that Vice President Jawando and Councilmember Kristin Mink later released statements expressing concern about the scope of the Planning Board’s proposal and advocating "for a pause and further study" before advancing changes.
Councilmembers said they will continue outreach with county officials and keep residents informed; Michele Rosenfeld and the municipal counsel will continue attending interjurisdictional meetings to seek technical language acceptable to Section 5. The council did not take formal legislative action on the amendment that night.
