Montco 2040:
a shared vision
55
...advocate and partner with local municipalities, developers, and community groups to provide
workforce housing, additional walkable new housing, accessory apartments, and accessible special
needs housing that will reflect the needs of the county’s diverse population
■■ Number of public housing
units replaced, improved,
or renovated
Measuring success
■■ More municipalities with a
housing voucher presence
Measuring success
■■ Increased new multifamily,
townhouse, and small lot
single developments in
appropriate locations
■■ New municipal ordinances
allowing affordable
housing, accessory
apartments, and special
needs housing
■■ Percent of county
population paying less than
35% of their income for
housing
Measuring success
Many actions create housing opportunities, such as:
■■ Allowing accessory apartments in local zoning districts
■■ Building apartments, townhouses, duplexes,
quadruplexes, twins, and small lot singles in walkable
locations that will appeal to singles, young workers,
small households, and seniors. (Of the projected demand
of 38,000 new units by 2040, 24,700 of the units are
expected to be apartments or attached singles.)
■■ Giving zoning bonuses for workforce housing
■■ Allowing special needs housing in all zoning districts
■■ Using employer assisted housing
■■ Streamlining the development review process
■■ Encouraging senior housing to be near services and
walkable destinations
...encourage renovation or replacement of aging public housing units in cooperation with the
county housing authority
The Montgomery County Housing Authority is an independent agency that administers the U. S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development’s programs for public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
The Authority owns and operates four high rise towers designed for elderly and disabled populations and four townhouse
communities designed for general occupancy. Because many of the buildings, while functional, are dated, the Authority
will continue to introduce improvements and renovations, as well as examine the cost effectiveness of strategically replacing
some of the buildings.
...encourage continued deconcentration of housing voucher use in cooperation with the county
housing authority
Approximately 2,500 households across the county participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program within privately-
owned rental units. Federal standards provide the framework for where the vouchers will most likely be used. The
Montgomery County Housing Authority will continue to encourage deconcentration of vouchers by making voucher users
aware of housing opportunities around the county, encouraging private sector landlords to accept vouchers, and exploring
methods of changing federal funding levels and regulations to increase the value of individual vouchers.
Allowing accessory apartments is a simple way of giving more
housing choices to those who do not need a lot of space
