The Anne Arundel County Council rejected a bill that would have scaled back the county’s 2024 Housing Attainability Act—a move that signals a strong commitment to expanding workforce housing and addressing the region’s affordability crisis.
The proposed rollback, sponsored by Councilmember Nathan Volke, sought to restrict density bonuses for affordable housing developments to certain areas of the county. While framed as a modest zoning adjustment, the bill would have significantly weakened one of the county’s few effective tools for producing housing for teachers, first responders, and public employees.
County Executive Steuart Pittman’s administration opposed the measure, warning that it would “chisel away” at a policy designed to keep working families in the county. The Housing Attainability Act already includes thoughtful safeguards, requiring developers to allocate a portion of units for moderate-income residents and offering density bonuses only when affordability thresholds are met.
The council’s rejection of the bill reflects a broader understanding: solving the housing crisis requires bold, inclusive policies—not reactionary measures that cater to NIMBYism. Anne Arundel County took a stand for progress, equity, and the future of its workforce. That’s leadership worth applauding.
Read more about the bill and the Council vote at the Baltimore Banner: Anne Arundel County Council rejects bill to slow affordable housing – The Baltimore Banner