Housing for All − Part 1: Building Balance Between Community Voices and Housing Needs

Hear about what public and private sector leaders are doing to address the housing shortage in Maryland. 

From neighborhood design to development decisions, counties are at the forefront of shaping how Marylanders live and thrive. Yet as housing pressures mount, state-driven reforms risk sidelining local expertise and community priorities. This session brings together diverse voices to explore smart, collaborative strategies for increasing housing options without losing local perspective.

Title: Housing for All − Part 1: Building Balance Between Community Voices and Housing Needs

Description: County governments play a uniquely vital role in shaping the look, smell, and feel of our communities. As the level of government closest to communities, counties have long held the authority to guide land use and zoning decisions that directly impact residents’ daily lives. However, in the face of a national affordable housing crisis, state-level proposals increasingly seek to impose top-down solutions, endangering the autonomy and input that Maryland residents expect and deserve. This panel will bring together elected officials, policy experts, and stakeholders to examine what’s working—and what’s not—in Maryland’s efforts to expand housing supply, and to explore how counties and the State can collaborate without compromising local authority.

Speakers:

  • Lakisha Hull, Director, Prince George’s Department of Planning
  • Deb Carpenter, Director of the Planning and Permitting Division, Frederick County
  • Bobby Thompson, Director of Operations, Beazer Homes

Moderator: The Honorable Robbyn Lewis, Maryland House of Delegates

Date/Time: Friday, August 15, 2025; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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