Topic input - Housing and Development

We'll post here for your input on some of the most important questions facing Montgomery County, PA as we move into the future. Visit often to provide your input!

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Survey - Housing Affordability

Survey - Housing Affordability

Phase 2: Housing Needs

Housing Needs

Phase 3: We're compiling your ideas.

We're compiling your ideas.

Phase 4: Summary of Input

Summary of Input

Housing Needs

October 1, 2024 4:00 AM - February 1, 2025 5:00 AM

How have the changes in the housing market impacted you and your loved ones?

What are the main issues that you see with the types of housing available and the price points in Montgomery County?

6 ideas

unknown author2 years ago A number of local governments in Montgomery County seem interested in evaluating affordable housing bonus programs or similar strategies. However, while smaller municipalities may not have the resources required to monitor and enforce affordability requirements over time. (Specifically, the need to confirm that a participating project is continuing to offer the number of affordable units required, to households that qualify at the specified Area Median Income level, for the full term of the commitment. And to compel compliance with any projects that are not meeting these requirements.)Montgomery County could help by establishing an official service through which they could handle these monitoring and enforcement services for smaller municipalities. Funding could potentially be handled via a contract with the municipality, or via a fee paid by program participants.

unknown author2 years ago Pennsylvania law generally requires municipal comprehensive plans to both "meet the housing needs of present residents and of those individuals and families anticipated to reside in the municipality" and to be "generally consistent with the objectives and plans of the county comprehensive plan."In practice, these requirements may be difficult to enforce -- but the county should nevertheless seek to carry out the law's spirit.One strategy Montgomery County should consider is assessing the state of current municipal zoning regulations. The county could establish policy guidance for areas where growth is appropriate (such as within a regional rail station 'walkshed') and areas where preservation is appropriate (such as farther-flung greenfield areas); it could also review whether each municipality has either provided for -- or has effectively 'zoned out' -- different types of housing.The results of this assessment could then become either a 'boost' or a 'detractor' that applies to any Montco 2050 grant applications. Municipalities that implement any recommended changes could receive an additional 'boost' to their grant applications.

Michael H2 years ago More mid-high rise condos. Condos are better than apartments because you own the condo eventually. Plus studies show that the more ownership in an area, the more involved they are about the area. Commercial stuff not to far either. Maybe leisure mid-high rise buildings and scattered other commercial use ( retail,dining, offices etc) nearby to condos so that way people aren’t force to use vehicles to get to where they need to go go.

Danielle Morelli2 years ago

unknown author2 years ago One of the Montgomery County Planning Commission's major strengths is the expertise that it has on staff and its ability to research local policy problems to inform local and regional policymaking, particularly as regarding land use and zoning issues.One area that seems to be under-researched from a policy perspective in southeastern Pennsylvania is whether there are any regional strategies available for addressing other aspects of escalating housing costs, in particular: construction materials costs, labor force issues, and financing issues. Many of these issues will likely require national policy changes, but there could be opportunities for action at the county and regional level that might help 'bend' those cost curves and help support access to financing for middle-scale projects.Researching these issues would be a first step to identifying any steps the county can take -- and would provide a policy basis for approaching other regional partners (such as DVRPC, other counties, unions, colleges/universities, large employers, financing, or other institutional partners) on potential initiatives to address these cost drivers.

Cindy Charlton2 years ago My adult daughter lives with us as she saves for a huge down payment to make it possible for her to buy a house. She believes that homeownership is important for building wealth. There are few opportunities for an affordable house to buy in eastern Montgomery County, near her business and family. This area is already over-developed and I don't want to see anymore building here, although it goes on, on every spare lot! I would like to see building of multi-family buildings in less developed areas that are safe and have shopping and restaurants nearby. I don't know where that is, however!

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Total posts: 6

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Topic input - Housing and Development

Phases

Housing Needs

6 ideas

Affordable Housing Monitoring and Enforcement Service

Housing Policy Assessment and Grantmaking

Home ownership

Affordable Housing

Construction Cost and Financing Research

Affordable housing hard to find

Filters

Topic input - Housing and Development

Phases

Housing Needs

6 ideas

Affordable Housing Monitoring and Enforcement Service

Housing Policy Assessment and Grantmaking

Home ownership

Affordable Housing

Construction Cost and Financing Research

Affordable housing hard to find

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