More Homes Possible In Commercial Areas: Smart Growth Or More Traffic?

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Developers have new incentives to build more homes on underutilized commercial lots in most of Anne Arundel County.

The legislation aims to create more housing near transit and main thoroughfares. It passed along party lines on Monday. All four County Council Democrats supported the bill, while all three Republicans opposed it.

Bill 2-25 offers reduced fees and expedited review for developers building homes in one of the target areas. Builders can now construct up to 22 residential units per acre on some commercial properties. That's about a floor more of apartments than the zoning code previously allowed, The Baltimore Banner reported.

County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) called the law "a win for the people of Anne Arundel County."

"It's a win for residents who have long called for revitalization of areas where crumbling infrastructure, vacant commercial eyesores, and abandoned industrial sites exist," Pittman said in a statement. "It's a win for families and our essential workers who are priced out of our housing market and need more options close to jobs, schools, and transit. And it's a win for the environment because this bill directs growth to already developed areas, helping us preserve forests, fields, and waterways."

The Banner said Shannon Leadbetter (R-District 7) passed an amendment that excluded her entire district from the policy change. Leadbetter represents Crofton and all of South County.

Leadbetter said the bill also allowed residential developments on properties zoned C4, the highest commercial zoning designation. Homes could not previously be built on these lots, she said.

Leadbetter is also apprehensive that this zoning change came in the middle of the county's Comprehensive Rezoning Process, which is only partially complete.

"I am concerned about the unintended consequences on our infrastructure, how those [consequences] could negatively impact the quality of life for all the citizens of Anne Arundel County and with the timing of this change," Leadbetter said on Facebook. "To open up C4 properties county wide to the [possibility] of residential development in the middle of Comprehensive Rezoning - where many conversations about possible future uses of properties take place - feels like we are changing the rules, while work is still very much in process."

The Banner said Amanda Fiedler (R-District 5) passed an amendment to exclude the area of Severna Park surrounding Route 2 but let the bill apply to the part of Severna Park around Veterans Highway.

"I made a commitment to [constituents] to consider them when making any changes to the area that could impact traffic, their quality of life," Fiedler told WJZ. "For me, it really is the traffic and the infrastructure, we're talking two lanes in and out."

The county executive acknowledged that "amendments removed certain areas from the bill's reach."

"When I ran for County Executive, I promised a greener, more equitable, and smarter land use policy. This bill delivers on that promise," Pittman said "I remain hopeful that future conversations will allow us to bring the benefits of this tool to more parts of the county."

The law takes effect July 1.