For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Council will also review concerns about the I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement and continue its review of the
Subdivision Staging Policy
The Council will meet virtually on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m. 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 Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting 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 and Fios 30.
Council Agenda Items
Board of Health Regulation to Adopt an Executive Order 122-20, COVID-19 Local Order Amending and Restating Order Dated Sept. 29, 2020
At 11 a.m. the Council, sitting as the Board of Health, is scheduled to introduce and conduct a public hearing on a Board of Health regulation to adopt Executive Order 122-20 transmitted by County Executive Elrich. This amended public health order maintains existing child care capacity limits for child care providers in Montgomery County, instead of following the state to 100 percent child care capacity. Among other changes and clarifications, the public health order limits gatherings to 25 people and allows indoor food service, retail, personal services and other activities to continue at 25 percent occupancy. Outdoor ice rinks could open with a letter of approval from the County and escape rooms would be permitted to open with only six people per room or game. The order also adds language requiring the collection of information to assist with contact tracing.
Read the full Executive Order 122-20 here. View the Council staff report here.
I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement
At 9:30 a.m. the Council is scheduled to review concerns about the I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which includes traffic, environmental, engineering and financial analyses of the Build Alternatives and the No Build Alternative. On Oct. 26 the Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee was briefed on the public hearing testimony and correspondence on the DEIS, as well as joint staff reviews. The T&E Committee reviewed which elements to include in a Preferred Alternative, as well as concerns about the DEIS and the project. The Committee requested that a joint Council and County Executive letter be presented to the Council for review and transmittal to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Some of the concerns detailed in the letter include: insufficient alternatives analysis; the impacts on natural resources, adjacent property and parkland; uncertainty about the transportation impacts and the benefits of the project; changing travel patterns; and environmental impacts and mitigation measures.
The Council staff report and the letter can be viewed here.
2020-2024 Subdivision Staging Policy
At 1:30 p.m. the Council will continue its review of the County’s 2020-2024 Subdivision Staging Policy, which is one of the many ways that policymakers maintain and enhance Montgomery County’s outstanding quality of life. The Subdivision Staging Policy is based on having sufficient infrastructure to support new development. It includes criteria and guidance for the administration of Montgomery County’s Adequate Public Facility Ordinance (APFO), which matches the timing of private development with the availability of public infrastructure. Every four years, recommendations for policy updates reflecting current growth patterns start with the Montgomery Planning Department, before being reviewed and approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board and the Council. This year, companion legislation (Bill 37-20, Bill 38-20 and Bill 39-20) is needed to implement some of the Subdivision Staging Policy recommendations.
The Council will discuss recommendations from the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee and the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee covering transportation-related Subdivision Staging Policy and impact tax recommendations, as well as the proposed name change for the Subdivision Staging Policy. There have been 11 committee meetings about the Subdivision Staging Policy in addition to the Council meetings on Oct. 20, 27 and 30. The Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on the Subdivision Staging Policy on Nov. 10. Final action is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Bill 37-20, Subdivision – Preliminary Plan – Adequate Public Facilities – Amendments
The Council will continue its review of Bill 37-20, which would require an applicant requesting an extension of an adequate public facilities determination to provide a new determination of school adequacy for any remaining unbuilt units under the school test in effect at the time of the Planning Board’s review. Council President Sidney Katz is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Planning Board.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#ValidityPeriod is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 38-20, Taxation – Development Impact Taxes for Transportation and Public School Improvements – Amendments
The Council will continue its review of Bill 38-20, which would amend transportation and school impact tax district designations and the impact tax rates that apply in these districts. Bill 38-20 also would modify the applicability of development impact tax exemptions for certain uses and in certain locations, and generally amend the law governing transportation and school development impact taxes. Council President Sidney Katz is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Planning Board.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#ImpactTax is being used for this bill on social media.
Expedited Bill 39-20, Taxation - Recordation Tax – Amendments
The Council will continue its review of Expedited Bill 39-20, which would increase the rate of the recordation tax levied under state law for certain transactions involving the transfer of property and would establish a partial exemption from the recordation tax for a first-time home buyer. Moreover, Bill 39-20 would amend the allocation of revenue received from the recordation tax to capital improvements for schools and to the Montgomery Housing Initiative Fund. Council President Sidney Katz is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Planning Board.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#RecordationTax is being used for this bill on social media.
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