MARYLAND NEWS – Montgomery County passes affordable housing plan amid protests and displacement fears

Ananya Roy, News Writer

The Montgomery County Council passed a controversial zoning measure on Tuesday to allow multi-family housing, such as duplexes, triplexes, and apartments up to 40 feet tall, on lots currently zoned for single-family homes along major roads. The legislation, backed by Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-González, aims to increase affordable housing options amid rising home prices and limited supply. The plan requires eligible roads to be at least 100 feet wide with three travel lanes and mandates that a portion of new units qualify as long-term workforce housing.

The vote followed weeks of protest, with opponents warning the policy could displace working-class residents and alter the character of residential neighborhoods. Groups like EPIC of MoCo criticized the measure as potentially discriminatory, while others expressed concern about future zoning expansions. Council members argued that the plan is necessary to address a worsening housing crisis, noting that the county’s median home price exceeds $800,000.