Frederick County Council Takes Testimony On Temporary Moratorium Bill

There was a lot testimony in  opposition to the legislation.Frederick, Md (KM) Public testimony was taken Tuesday night by the Frederick County Council on legislation setting up a temporary moratorium on residential construction in areas where schools are severely overcrowded. The sponsor of this legislation, Councilman Steve McKay, says the halt in construction would provide some time for the county to come up with a plan to increase student capacity at nearby schools.But a lot of the testimony to the bill was in opposition. Gary Bennett is a member of the Affordable Housing Council. “First, the {Affordable Housing} Council acknowledges that school overcrowding is a difficult issue. . But simply put, a moratorium is a blunt instrument that will not solve this problem,” he says. “But what  it will do is cause undue hardship for Frederick County residents like those seeking that first home. young professionals wishing to trade up as their families grow, and, yes, existing students at elementary, middle and high schools.”Similar testimony came from Danielle Adams, the Executive Officer of the Frederick County Building Industry Association. “We asked that  your influence is focused on  building schools and not defunding them. This proposed legislation does not plan, build, improve, or expand a single Frederick County Public School. Furthermore, it will crush employment in all roles in the building industry,” she says.The  argument that this bill would lead to a lot of people in the building trades being out of work was echoed by Eric Neuquest with Pleasants Construction. “We’re very concerned that this legislation will result in a lot of our families that work for us in the trades doing their jobs, and not having the ability to feed their families, raise their kids in our community,” he said.Hugh Gordon, CEO of the Frederick County Association of Realtors, said this legislation could mean fewer affordable housing units available in the county. “I’m still struggling to understand how the loss of various revenues that the county receives from builders and new home buyers will not impact affordable housing. Without new home construction, how could builders in new communities reach the point, the nexus, where MPDU are required. Is there an assumption that builders will develop entire communities of MPDU’s? Is that a realistic expectation,”: Gordon asked.MPDU’s are moderately priced dwelling units.With fewer homes available for purchase, Gordon says prices will go up. “A building moratorium will only make prices in the Frederick County market increase,”: he said. “It’s a simple law of supply and demand.”The County Council is expected to vote on this bill at a later date.By Kevin McManus