New Bill Would Provide Tax Incentive for Housing on WMATA Property

| at 11:01 am | Categories Montgomery County

Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Andrew Friedson introduced legislation Tuesday that would extend Metro’s existing property tax abatement for 15 years for new high-rise development. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would require the Director of Finance to offer a payment in lieu of taxes for a high-rise building constructed by a private developer on property leased from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at a Metro station.

Council introduces bill to ban smoking in outdoor serving areas

| at 2:13 pm | Categories Montgomery County

The county’s smoking ban would be expanded to include outdoor serving areas such as patios, decks or porches operated by restaurants under a bill introduced by the County Council this week. Councilmember Sidney Katz (D-District 3) is the lead sponsor of Bill 35-18, Health and Sanitation – Smoking- Outdoor Serving Areas, which is cosponsored by Council President Hans Riemer (D-At … Read More

Two New County Laws Go Into Effect on Sunday

| at 10:03 am | Categories Montgomery County

Owners of short-term rentals through services such as airbnb will be required to register and license the properties. Graphic from Wikimedia Commons Two significant pieces of legislation will take effect in Montgomery County on Sunday, July 1. One will require owners of short-term residential rentals to register and license their rental properties. The second will raise the county’s minimum wage, … Read More

$300,000 Dale Drive pedestrian safety study to begin in July

| at 10:42 am | Categories Montgomery County
Residents form coalition to address Dale Drive safety issues

An example of the aftermath of an accident on Dale Drive. Photo by Julie Englund. A $300,000 study on potential long-term pedestrian safety enhancements to Dale Drive will begin in July following the County Council’s final budget approval yesterday. The funding for the Department of Transportation work was proposed in March by Councilmember Tom Hucker (D-District 5) during a hearing … Read More

Council schedules hearing on deportation legal assistance funding

| at 10:30 am | Categories Montgomery County

Photo from Wikimedia Commons The County Council has scheduled a public hearing on a special appropriation that would provide funding for legal assistance to “Residents Detained for Deportation Proceedings,” according to a press release. The hearing will be held Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. on the proposal to appropriate $374,957 from the general fund’s undesignated reserve. The special … Read More

Zoning change, budget hearings to highlight council’s week

| at 10:30 am | Categories Montgomery County

Stella B. Werner Council Office Building. Montgomery County photo. A change in zoning regulations to attract large companies and a series of operating budget hearings highlight this week’s County Council business. County Executive Ike Leggett requested that the council introduce Zoning Text Amendment 18-05, Uses, Use Standards, and Regulatory Approvals – Signature Business Headquarters, which would revise the review process … Read More