Baltimore City Passes Law Regulating Airbnb
Business Affairs / County News / Housing and Community Development
Baltimore City Passes Law Regulating Airbnb

According to WMAR, after a procedural final vote the Baltimore City Council has passed a bill regulating short-term rentals such as Airbnb. The Baltimore Sun reported on the details of the bill: The legislation would require hosts using the rental platforms to register with city authorities and impose a 9.5 percent hotel tax on Airbnb-style stays. It would also ban people from renting properties other than their primary homes. ... It does include a grandfather clause…

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December 7, 2018
Agriculture / Environment / Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Carbon Tax Bill Introduced in House of Representatives

A Sustainable Cities Network article (2018-12-04) reported on the introduction of a bipartisan bill in the United States House of Representatives that would set a nationwide price and refund system for carbon emissions. Many climate change advocates support a carbon tax as a market driven approach to address climate change. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018 (H.R.7173) is sponsored by Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), Francis Rooney (D-FL), Charlie Christ (R-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Anna…

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December 7, 2018
Constituents in Crisis? Human Services to the Rescue!
Housing and Community Development / MACo Events / Winter Conference
Constituents in Crisis? Human Services to the Rescue!

There are a broad continuum of county agencies and programs that are dedicated to providing community-based services to address the special needs of children, families, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Each agency plays a particular role and at the MACo Winter Conference session, "Constituents in Crisis? Human Services to the Rescue!," you'll learn which to call when your residents need vital help and support. Title: Constituents in Crisis? Human Services to the Rescue! Description:…

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December 3, 2018
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Winter Conference
Survey Finds Millennial Homeownership Up, Student Debt Remains a Burden

    A Route 50 article (2018-11-26) reported on the results of a recent survey which found that millennial home ownership rates are increasing despite continuing financial burdens from student debt. The survey was conducted by the company Research Now on behalf of the professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. From the article: But a report about the results also points to estimates indicating that 80 percent of people in this age bracket say student…

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November 28, 2018
Agriculture / Economic Development / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
Talk Land Use, Environment & Transportation with Smart Growth Subcabinet at #MACoCon

The Smart Growth Subcabinet is holding court at the 2019 January MACo Winter Conference. This is your chance to hear about land use, environment, transportation and other important county issues directly from Cabinet secretaries and other key Administration decisionmakers. Let MACo know if you have a topic you want directly addressed at the meeting (see instructions near the end of this post.) A Chat with the Smart Growth Subcabinet Description The Smart Growth Subcabinet oversees…

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November 20, 2018
County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues
Meet the State’s Three Newest RISE Zones

The Maryland Department of Commerce has approved areas of Morgan State University, Montgomery College's Germantown campus, and Salisbury University as Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone (RISE Zones).  Commerce reports on the scale of each zone and the benefits to their surrounding communities: Morgan State University (10 acres): The RISE Zone benefits will enable the university and its private partners to make improvements to the Northwood Shopping Center and transform it into Northwood Commons, which is slated to…

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November 1, 2018
Prince George’s Council Passes Bill to Regulate Airbnb
Business Affairs / County News / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning
Prince George’s Council Passes Bill to Regulate Airbnb

Owners of Prince George's County's approximately 1,500 Airbnb listings and of properties listed on other short-term rental platforms will now have to be licensed and comply with county regulations.  County officials view the legislation as a balance between protecting the health and safety of residents as well as allowing residents to continue to enjoy the economic benefits of listing their properties on short-term rental sites. As reported by The Washington Post only owner-occupied residences would…

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October 24, 2018
County News / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: Complete Streets, Small Cell Update, Maryland Health Connection, & Prescription for Change

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally is joined by MACo's Legislative Director Natasha Mehu to discuss Complete Streets, update listeners on the recent action taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding small cell wireless siting, explain why Maryland reaps the benefits of a state-based health exchange, and discuss MACo's advocacy for re-prioritizing public health in the face of the opioid epidemic by reviving local health department funding and targeting drug treatment…

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October 19, 2018
County News / Education / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Frederick Council Passes Bill to Adjust School Construction Fees

The Frederick County Council yesterday approved a bill to adjust school construction fees assessed on developers whose projects fail the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Schools test. APFOs are used to slow or restrict growth until adequate infrastructure or public services are in place to serve the new population of residents. According to WFMD: These builders can either build the new school capacity and let their projects go forward, or they could stop building homes until the schools are…

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October 17, 2018
New NACo Report on Community Engagement and Affordable Housing Development
Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues
New NACo Report on Community Engagement and Affordable Housing Development

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has released a report, Housing Connections: Promoting Affordability Through Community Engagement, to help counties improve community participation in shaping affordable housing programs. The report features three case studies of counties implementing innovative strategies to engage their communities: Nassau County, N.Y; Orleans Parish/New Orleans, La. and Tillamook County, Ore., It also showcases several community engagement resources for affordable housing programs. For more information: Housing Connections: Promoting Affordability Through Community Engagement (NACo)…

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October 15, 2018
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