Baltimore County Zoning Is Broken
If local zoning worked, Maryland wouldn't be short 590,186 homes needed for both its current and future population.
The problem is restrictive land-use policies and outdated zoning rules that favor big, expensive houses - homes out of reach for most Marylanders.
It's no surprise that 70% of Marylanders believe their elected officials aren't doing enough to fix the housing crisis. This shortage is costing the state billions in lost revenue.
My clients and I have experienced this crisis firsthand. I have a 1/4 acre lot listed for sale in Baltimore County. It is currently under contract, and we have appeared 3 times before the zoning commission for a variance. We have an appeal date on February 18. The buyer, a local builder, plans to purchase the lot and build a modest, affordable home on this lot. They have built several homes in the community, for which they applied and received a variance in order to build. There are 18 homes on similarly sized lots in the community that were built after the zoning changed. However, the variance was denied on this particular lot; the reason stated was that the lot was not exceptional. The thing that makes this lot exceptional is the scarcity and the shortage of affordable homes, and it is not unlike the other 18 homes in Evergreen that were built on similarly sized lots.
But together, we can change that.
Visit and share your story. Demand action from state leaders.
Because Maryland's future begins at home.
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