5339
MONTGOMERY COUNTY

CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY;

(5)    A CAREFUL STUDY OF MARKET DEMANDS SHOWS THAT
APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNTY'S NEW LABOR FORCE
OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS WILL REQUIRE MODERATELY PRICED
DWELLING UNITS;

(6)    DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSES INDICATE THAT PUBLIC
POLICIES WHICH PERMIT EXCLUSIVELY HIGH PRICED HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOUNG FAMILIES, RETIRED
AND ELDERLY PERSONS, SINGLE ADULTS, FEMALE HEADS OF
HOUSEHOLDS, AND MINORITY HOUSEHOLDS, AND SUCH POLICIES
PRODUCE THE UNDESIRABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE EFFECTS OF
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, THUS FAILING TO IMPLEMENT THE
HOUSING GOAL OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTY;

(7)    EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THE CONTINUING HIGH
LEVEL OF DEMAND FOR MORE LUXURIOUS HOUSING, WITH A HIGHER
PROFIT POTENTIAL, DISCOURAGES DEVELOPERS FROM OFFERING A
MORE DIVERSIFIED RANGE OF HOUSING, AND THE PRODUCTION OF
MODERATELY PRICED HOUSING IS FURTHER DETERRED BY THE HIGH
COST OF LAND, MATERIALS AND LABOR;

(8)    ACTUAL PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE IN THE COUNTY
INDICATES THAT IF LAND COSTS CAN BE REDUCED, HOUSES OF
MORE MODEST SIZE AND FEWER AMENITIES CAN BE BUILT TO BE
SOLD AT A PROFIT IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING READY MARKET FOR
SUCH HOUSING;

(9)    EVERY INDICATION IS THAT, GIVEN THE PROPER
INCENTIVE, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BEST EQUIPPED AND
POSSESSES THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF MODERATELY PRICED HOUSING NEEDED
IN THE COUNTY;

(10)   RAPID REGIONAL GROWTH AND A STRONG HOUSING
DEMAND HAVE COMBINED TO MAKE LAND AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS
VERY HIGH AND TO CONSTRICT THE USED HOUSING MARKET;

(11)   IN RECENT YEARS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
ENCOURAGE MODERATELY PRICED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION THROUGH
ZONING INCENTIVES PERMITTING GREATER DENSITY AND THROUGH
RELAXATION OF SOME BUILDING AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.
VERY LITTLE MODERATELY PRICED HOUSING HAS RESULTED; AND

(12)   IN SOME INSTANCES EXISTING HOUSING FOR PERSONS
OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME IS SUBSTANDARD AND
OVERCROWDED.

25A-2. DECLARATION OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND PURPOSE.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY DECLARES IT TO BE THE
PUBLIC POLICY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND: