Zone Change To Build Affordable Housing Approved By Council

SILVER SPRING, MD — The County Council unanimously approved a zoning change that will allow the owners of Park Montgomery — a high-rise 141-unit apartment building in Silver Spring — to build more affordable housing on the property.

In order to construct another building with 76 new affordable housing units, the owners had to get approval to change the property’s classification to a Commercial Residential Town Floating zone.

“The zoning change will allow increased density on the lot,” said Derek Baumgardner, the county’s hearing examiner, who recommended that the council approve the proposal.

Development funding stems from the County Housing Initiative Fund and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and the developer says they will renovate the existing 141 units as part of the project.

“It’s a great project,” said Councilmember Hans Riemer at the meeting Tuesday. “I think it’s a terrific example of a non profit or a mission driven housing partner doing a redevelopment that preserves affordable [housing] and adds housing.”

The property is at 8860 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, less than 1,000 feet from where a new Purple Line station is being built, the report says.

“We want to see this happening a lot more in the Purple Line Corridor, because there’s a lot of opportunities for this,” said Riemer. “I’m glad to support it.”