Maryland Governor Signs Executive Order to Boost Affordable Housing

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order to address the state's affordable housing shortage, requiring state agencies to streamline their permitting process and work faster to get projects to the construction phase. The order also creates incentives for local governments to increase housing production. The goal is to speed up the process and increase the supply of affordable units, particularly for low-income residents who spend over 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments. Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day estimates that outsourcing part of the permitting process could cut about 12 months from review times.

Key Takeaways:

• The executive order requires state agencies involved in permitting to take steps to speed up their review of applications, including outsourcing to private architects and engineers, digitizing documents, and fee payments.
• The order instructs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to work with local governments to develop targets for housing production and offer incentives for meeting those targets.
• Local governments that create the desired number of units within a designated timeline will be prioritized for DHCD funding.
• The order also requires DHCD to prioritize housing construction projects close to transportation resources and future transportation infrastructure, and to work with the Maryland Department of General Services to identify state land suitable for housing.
• Montgomery and Prince George's counties can be slow in creating potential for more housing due to political debates, while Baltimore City tends to move faster.
• The order aims to create uniformity across the state in measuring the progress of affordable housing development, leading to more productive results.

Statistics:

• 53% of Maryland families spend more than a third of their monthly income on rent or mortgage payments (Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day).
• Outsourcing part of the permitting process could cut about 12 months from review times (Day).
• Local governments will be prioritized for funding if they create the desired number of housing units within a designated timeline.

Sources:

• Byline (Dana Munro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore)
• Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day
• Tom Coale, lobbyist for affordable housing policy in Annapolis