Press Releases

Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee to hold virtual meetings on July 12

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 9, 2021

The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) will meet on Monday, July 12 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

In the morning, the PHED Committee will discuss programs for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and the Biotechnology Investor Incentive Program (BIIP).

In the afternoon, the Committee will discuss a temporary regulation regarding the pricing of for-sale moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs) in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Committee will also review Subdivison Regulations Amendment (SRA) 20-02 which would make revisions, clarifications and corrections to the subdivision ordinance.

The members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.

SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program and Biotechnology Investor Incentive Tax Credit Supplement
Review: The Committee will review the Small Business Research Matching Grant Program, known as the SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program, and the Biotechnology Investor Incentive Tax Credit Supplement (BIITCS).

The SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program encourages small businesses to engage in research and development with the potential for commercialization. The program provides matching grants to businesses for early-stage County businesses that successfully received a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I or II grant to conduct research in medicine, biotechnology or life sciences.

In March 2021, through the adoption of Bill 37-19, the Council expanded the types of businesses eligible to receive this type of matching County-supported research and development grants and strengthened the oversight of taxpayer dollars used to support these investments. The bill was sponsored by Councilmember Glass and cosponsored by Councilmembers Riemer and Jawando.

The BIITCS’s intent is to incentivize investments in biotechnology businesses in Montgomery County. The County created the program as a companion to Maryland’s Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit. The state program provides a tax credit to qualified investors who make an investment in a qualified state biotechnology business. The County’s program is a supplement to qualified investors who receive the state tax credit for making an investment in a biotechnology business headquartered in Montgomery County.

Those expected to attend and provide information include Laurie Boyer, economic development manager Office of the County Executive (CEX); Peter McGinnity, business development manager, Department of Finance (Finance); Judy Costello, special projects manager, CEX; Ben Wu, president and CEO, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), Brad Stewart, SVP of business development, MCEDC; Christy Blake, special projects manager, MCEDC; Rich Bendis, President and CEO, BioHealth Innovation (BHI); and Sarah Miller, vice president of economic development BHI.

Proposed Regulation Regarding Pricing of For-Sale MPDUs
Briefing: The Committee will discuss a proposed regulation regarding the pricing of for-sale moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs). The Committee will discuss the Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (DHCA) proposed Executive Regulation to adjust and increase the pricing structure for MPDUs in line with the overall changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). No regulation has been formally transmitted to the Council for approval.

DHCA informed Council staff that it believes it is critical to make these pricing adjustments as soon as possible given increases in the cost of construction materials. The last pricing adjustment was in 2016. Nothing in the proposed regulation would impact rental MPDU pricing or affordability.

Those expected to attend and provide information include Aseem Nigam, director, Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), Frank Demarais, deputy director, DHCA, Lisa Schwartz, manager, Affordable Housing Programs Section, Somer Cross, program manager, Affordable Housing Programs Section and Stephanie Killian, advisor on DHCA housing programs.

SRA 20-02, Subdivision Ordinance - Revisions, Clarifications and Corrections
Review: The Committee will review SRA 20-02 which would make revisions, clarifications and corrections to the subdivision ordinance. The goal of the SRA is to clarify language, correct mistakes, and add necessary provisions that are currently missing.
While most of the proposed changes are minor, several substantive changes are also proposed. The significant changes include:

• provisions for the approval of flag lots and lots without frontage;
• exemption from platting requirements for utility and telecommunications structures;
• provisions for vacating an approved subdivision plan;
• a provision for the extension of reservation of land for public use;
• a provision to specify an initiation date for the adequate public facilities validity period, similar to the existing initiation date provisions for plan validity;
• a limitation on Planning Board-approved adequate public facilities (APF) extensions to a total of 12 years;
• provisions for administrative subdivision plans for approval procedures, required findings, plan certification, amendments, validity periods, revocations, and canceled approvals; and
• a grandfathering provision to allow applications to be reviewed under the regulations that were in effect at the time of the application’s filing.

Council President Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Planning Board.

Those expected to attend and provide information include Casey Anderson, chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, Christina Sorrento, chief, Intake and Regulatory Coordination (IRC) Division, Montgomery County Planning Department, Patrick Butler, chief, Up-County Planning Division, Montgomery County Planning Department and Stephen Smith, planner coordinator, IRC, Montgomery County Planning Department.

The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

The virtual Council and Committee meetings will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

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Release ID: 21-281
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931