With affordable housing becoming more and more scarce in Montgomery County, Council Member Steve Silverman on Tuesday introduced legislation that would establish a commission to advise officials and plan for future growth.
The 15-member commission, which would include officials from the county’s Health and Human Services and Housing and Community Affairs departments, would be appointed by the county executive upon council approval.
With a population reaching close to a million residents, housing costs in Montgomery County typically outpace all other counties in Maryland. Montgomery County has more than 90 different boards and commissions, but has not had one focused on housing affordability in 25 years, said Silverman, who is a Democratic candidate for County Executive.
“These are all important groups but, simply put, we have an affordable and middle-class housing crisis,” Silverman said. “We need expertise on this every day.”
In addition to county officials, Silverman said the board would seek to include middle-income residents and people who live in the county that work in real estate and other housing-related fields. Each member would serve a three-year term.
“There are people living in this county that are on the cutting edge of what’s going on,” Silverman said.
The council set a public hearing on the bill for 1:30 p.m., July 11.
In other council news
» Members back resolution to support the Healthy Maryland Initiative, which would double tax to $2 on a pack of cigarettes in 2008.
» Public hearing on cab driver bill set fo July 11.
