So what became of all the energy generated at the November 19 meeting to protest the Housing Commission's purchase of the Verona Apartments, including plans to increase subsidized housing from 16% to 40%?
Well, OMIA (Oakland Mills Improvement Association) hasn't been hibernating.
The Village Board's response was to form a Task Force to update the Oakland Mills Master Plan of 2007--which the Housing Commission completely disregarded when it bought the Verona. This will take about 6 months.
OMIA has four member on the Task Force, but we decided there was no time to lose, especially during an election year, which is when the local pols are at their most receptive.
A Modest Proposal
So we drafted a modest proposal for a County Council bill to freeze subsidized housing at 16% and declare a moratorium on additional subsidized housing in our village until the level falls to the county average (as reflected in number of FARM students in the local schools).
One Village Board member promptly labeled us "moratoriumaniacs." (Try saying that after a couple of beers at The Second Chance.)
Nevertheless, as the first snowflakes fell on February 12, the Master Plan Task Force met to consider the OMIA proposal. The previous week, the Housing Subcommittee had recommended endorsing the bill by a 9-1 margin (Village Board member Jervis Dorton was the lone nay vote.)
After a long and frank exchange of views, the four OMIA members (Ginny Thomas, Bill McCormack, John DiTomasso, and I) who serve on the Master Plan Task Force agreed to modify our legislative proposal regarding the Verona; Ginny added an amendment calling on the county to immediately launch the comprehensive redevelopment process for OM.
CA Rep Alex Hekimian was instrumental in overcoming questions about the proposal's "legality," which seemed to be the main stumbling block for many Board members.
As Ginny Thomas explained, it is standard practice for constituents to bring an idea to a legislator, who then refers it to staff to be drafted in appropriate language. (Ginny would know, after two terms on the County Council and two more in the Maryland House of Delegates.)
After several changes, the proposal passed unanimously.
Whew!
I will restate the proposal at the end, but first a salute to all of the OMIA members who lobbied for passage. One Village Board member reported getting 40 emails on this subject, which certainly didn't hurt.
Next Step: Meeting with Ulman
While it's still early days, at least we are moving forward WITH the Village Board and can present a united front when the Task Force meets with County Executive Ken Ulman and Council Representative Calvin Ball. (Should happen soon, we hope.)
Now for the major provisions, as agreed to February 12:
- Limit subsidized housing of any type (state, federal, county; voucher or rent-restricted) in the 251 units at the Verona to 20%.
- Declare a moratorium on any additional subsidized housing of any type in Oakland Mills for 2 years.
- Require the County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits to conduct semiannual inspections of all rental housing near the Oakland Mills village center for compliance with applicable codes and regulations. Hold absentee landlords accountable for the condition of their property. Landlords will pay a fee for the inspection.
- Establish an oversight committee, comprising eight members from the Oakland Mills Master Plan Task Force, that meets quarterly to review implementation of this bill.
- Commit the county government to establish a mechanism, involving all stakeholders, to begin comprehensive planning for the revitalization of Oakland Mills.
As I said, this is just the beginning. The last provision--concerning comprehensive redevelopment of OM--is even more important than the moratorium. We want to restore our community to the conditions for which it was once well known, a place where people of all backgrounds and income levels could flourish because there was true diversity and enough resources to take care of all.
