Every year, MACo hosts a one-day symposium for county officials and professionals to dive deeply into a hot topic. The 2022 Fall Symposium will be held on October 19 and will focus on affordable housing and the planning/zoning, infrastructure, socioeconomic, and environmental factors involved.
2022 MACo Fall Symposium
Missing Home: Deep Conversations on Housing
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022 | Time: 9:30 am – 3:15 pm
Location: Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters Local 1563 Banquet Hall (8684 Veterans Highway, 4th Floor, Millersville, MD 21108)
Attire: Business Casual
Description:
While heightened by the pandemic, the lack of affordable housing pre-dates COVID-19 and continues to be one of the most controversial policy debates in recent years. It is undeniable that for many, finding a home has become a challenge. Advocates often highlight how housing impacts teachers and nurses, but the issue is far more wide-reaching. The lack of affordable housing impacts everyone. Marylanders’ only hope to find relief is to come together as a community to solve this issue. Federal, state, and county leaders all have their roles to play, as will developers, property-owners, school boards, and myriad other stakeholders. MACo’s 2022 Housing Symposium will focus on four key pillars of solving the housing crisis: Socioeconomic, Infrastructure, Planning & Zoning, and Environmental. This one-day symposium will be an honest exchange of ideas between public and private housing experts on solving a lack of home in Maryland.
AGENDA
9:30 am – 10:00 am…Check-in and Coffee
10:00 am – 10:15 am…Welcome and Introductions
10:15 am – 11:15 am…Is It Really That Easy? An Examination of the Debate Around Planning and Zoning Policy
Planning and Zoning policy is often front and center in the debate around housing affordability. Many affordable housing advocates believe that simple changes in policy will open the doors to new development and bring costs down. Detractors say that the issue is much more complicated and editing or axing a few sentences in the zoning code won’t be a miracle fix. This panel of practitioners will discuss the finer points of zoning policy and dig into these two views.
Speakers:
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- Amy Moredock, Planning and Zoning Director, Queen Anne’s County
- Erin Shearman Karpewicz, Executive Director, Arundel Community Development Services
- Dan Reed, Regional Policy Director, Greater Greater Washington
11:15 am – 11:30 am…Break
11:30 am – 12:15 pm…Broader Than Bricks and Mortar: A Conversation on Housing Infrastructure
Initially, when one thinks of infrastructure they imagine pipes, concrete, and physical structures, but infrastructure also contains public services such as wastewater treatment facilities, schools, and hospitals. This panel will discuss all of the above, from creating the physical structure of home to how we build out the surrounding public services.
Speakers:
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- Karen McJunkin, Regional Partner and Vice President, Elm Street Development
- Nicholas A. Redding, President and CEO, Preservation Maryland
- Yolanda Jiggetts, CEO, Park Heights Renaissance
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm…Break – Lunch Buffet Served
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm…A Candid Conversation with Urban, Suburban, and Rural Leaders
The housing crisis has been experienced differently in every corner of Maryland. While every jurisdiction is grappling with this issue, the challenges facing urban, suburban, and rural jurisdictions are not necessarily the same. Elected leaders representing each of these distinctive regions will discuss their experiences and what their jurisdictions are doing to get more Marylanders home.
Speakers:
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- Odette Ramos, Councilmember, Baltimore City Council
- Deb Jung, Councilmember, Howard County Council
- Thomasina Coates, Commissioner, Charles County Commissioner
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm…We’re All in this Together, But Not Impacted Equally: The Socioeconomics of the Housing Crisis
The lack of affordable housing has an impact on everyone, but some groups have been hit worse than others. An honest conversation about housing needs to include a recognition of those who have been most impacted by the current market. This panel will explore the socioeconomic challenges around housing and what can be done to help some of Maryland’s most vulnerable residents.
Speakers:
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- Lisa May, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy, Maryland Realtors
- Ben Kraft, Research Planner, Montgomery Planning
- Ashley Johnson-Hare, Deputy Director, Baltimore County Department of Housing and Community Development
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm…Break
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm…The Biggest Thing No One Is Talking About: A Look at Housing and the Environment
One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century will be meeting climate change head on, while also integrating environmental considerations into nearly all future policy solutions. Housing is a massive issue for a variety of reasons, and solutions to this current problem need to have the environment in mind. We can no longer place development above the environment, but development is crucial for an economically and socially robust society. This panel will discuss how to develop new housing stock while also considering the environment.
Speakers:
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- Lee Currey, Director, Water and Science Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Owen Bailey, Director of Land Use and Policy, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
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Lori Graf, Chief Executive Officer, Maryland Building Industry Association
3:30 pm…Adjournment
REGISTER ONLINE
(space is limited, so register ASAP!)
- Free for MACo Members (County Elected Officials and staff)
- Free for MD General Assembly Members
- $25 for MACo Corporate Partners (see list)
- $25 for NonProfit representatives
- $65 for all other NonMembers
Have questions about the symposium? Contact vwhite@mdcounties.org.
Interested in sponsoring the symposium and speaking to the attendees? Contact reginabz@mdcounties.org.
