How would you like an apartment building to replace the house next door?  And with no parking requirements, no infrastructure, no trees, and any green space built or paved over?

This could happen with the new general plan being developed now by our County Council.  It is called "THRIVE Montgomery 2050".  Many homeowners have been receiving frequent offers from developers to buy their home "as is."  Why? – because developers want to tear down homes to build duplexes and triplexes and even quadplexes.  If the County Council gets its way, they will be able to do this in single-family zoned areas very soon.  The resulting higher densities ("upzoning") will raise property taxes.  Working and middle-income families could be taxed out of their own homes.

These changes are based on the THRIVE and ATTAINABLE HOUSING initiatives produced by the Planning Board.  Do not be fooled by the names.  These initiatives are all about zoning.  As one Planning Board staff member admitted in a June 2nd hearing, "zoning is a major impediment to meeting our goals."  The plan will allow developers to replace homes with multi-family structures "by-right," i.e. without any public or community participation.

If THRIVE is passed by the County Council, it will quickly be followed by Zoning Text Amendments (ZTA's) that will put the zoning changes into law.  ZTA's have already been proposed by Councilmember Hans Reimer (D-At Large), who is now running for County Executive, and Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At Large).  These ZTA's require only a majority vote.  Regardless of what you may have heard, the replacement multi-unit new housing will NOT be affordable housing, which is a real need in our County today.  Instead it will be expensive market rate housing.  The Planning Board's own real estate expert admitted that the new units will NOT be "attainable" housing.  This new THRIVE scheme will destroy our diverse and affordable neighborhoods!

Let's work together to move Montgomery County toward greater inclusiveness, diversity, and prosperity, while preserving the natural environment and neighborhood character that drew us here in the first place.  Tell the County Council to reject THRIVE, and develop a real, responsible plan for our county's future.

For more information, please visit Responsible Growth for Montgomery County at: rg4mc.org