A new zoning amendment facilitates housing construction on properties owned by faith-based institutions.
The county council in Montgomery County, Maryland approved a zoning reform measure that makes it easier for churches and other places of worship to build housing on property they own, a movement colloquially known as ‘Yes in God’s Backyard.’
According to a press release from the county, “Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 24-01, also known as the Facilitating Affordable Inclusive Transformational Housing (FAITH) ZTA, will remove barriers to the creation of affordable housing and provide reasonable flexibility in the development standards for multi-unit and townhouse living on properties associated with faith and educational institutions.”
Qualifying projects will be required to meet one of five affordability thresholds. According to Pastor Will Ed Green, a supporter of the measure, the ZTA “opens up creative opportunities for those communities to address challenges like aging infrastructure, accessibility challenges, and environmentally unsafe buildings so that these vital services we are already providing our community aren't interrupted.”
FULL STORY: Council Passes Zoning Measure to Allow Affordable Housing Adjacent to Places of Worship
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