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Affordable Housing

• Calvert County supports the development of affordable/senior housing projects with the following incentives:  

  • Reduction/waiver of excise taxes for affordable housing projects

  • Waiver of Transfer Development Rights (TDR) requirement in town centers for new affordable housing construction

  • Establishment of the Calvert Housing Opportunities Fund to promote home ownership and rehabilitation of existing homes, and to provide builders with short-term financing for construction of low-to-moderate income housing units. This fund is managed by the Housing Opportunities Committee appointed by the County Commissioners and advisory to them. 

  • Options for Accessory Apartments in residential zoning 

  • Donation of county-owned land for affordable housing and senior apartment development 

  • Partnership with State of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s More House 4 Less and House Keys 4 Employees programs 

• Calvert County makes available the Calvert County Housing Information Guide.

• In May, 2006, the Calvert County Planning Commission and the Calvert County Commissioners approved a pilot workforce housing initiative which allows duplex, tri-plex or quad housing units in each election district in those areas zoned rural residential. This pilot program permits multi-family housing in areas previously zoned for single family housing on a limited, trial basis. By adding more units per lot, the cost of each unit is reduced. 

• In May, with the passing of the revised Calvert County Zoning Ordinance, accessory apartments are allowed over commercial in rural commercial zoned areas. (Commissioner Susan Shaw supports residential over commercial in town centers, but action was deferred on this initiative by the majority of the BOCC.)

• Calvert County was the first county in MD to implement the House Keys 4 Employees program. An employer (including Calvert County government) provides an employee a grant or loan of $2500 toward closing costs. This is matched by a County grant of $2500. The total $5,000 is matched by a state grant of $5000. This can be matched by a state loan at the end of the mortgage for an additional $5000 which also qualifies certain buyers for the More House 4 Less program offering lower interest rates over a longer term (up to 40 years) mortgage.

• Calvert County extended the Homeowner Tax Credit offered by the state. Calvert County offers a tax credit on up to the first $400,000 of assessed value on a primary residence for those homeowners whose incomes are $50,000 or less and whose net worth is below $200,000 excluding the value of the primary residence and any retirement accounts. The goal of this extended tax credit is to keep taxes affordable for those homeowners whose incomes have not kept up with rising assessments. Application must be made by October 31, 2006, even if current year taxes have been paid, to be eligible. 

• Calvert County Commissioners can and do negotiate for affordable units in new housing developments through the use of development agreements which can stipulate a certain percentage of affordable units in the development in exchange for county easements or other concessions. Susan believes that negotiated incentives are preferable to required inclusionary zoning to keep costs down.

• Calvert County Commissioners can and do offer PILOTs, or Payments In Lieu Of Taxes to affordable housing developments to make the financing possible for the builders/developers of those units. Examples are Yardley Hills and Chapline Senior Housing.

• Reduce the minimum lot size in rural residential zoned housing developments to make land less expensive and to curtail sprawl development. Susan voted against raising the minimum residential lot size to 1 acre.  

• Increase density in town centers for affordable and affordable senior housing developments like Chapline Place Senior Housing. The increased density makes the development economically feasible for the developer to build. The increased senior housing makes the seniors’ former homes available on the market, increasing the availability of a mix of existing housing at a variety of pricing. 

• Require realistic parking for senior housing (Susan voted against “overflow” parking in lieu of additional green space at Chapline Place Senior Housing in P. F.)  

• Create an affordable, mixed price, housing center on the Old Fairgrounds property (not required for the Park and Ride) in Prince Frederick through a public/private partnership with a company with a demonstrated track record of building and managing quality mixed price housing.  

• Enable the Calvert County Housing Authority to develop more senior and handicapped apartments on land they own in the Prince Frederick Town Center. 

• Create a housing match program where landlords and tenants can find each other and where roommates, housemates, or shared housing can be facilitated.  

• Allow residential units over commercial in town centers, with few restrictions, allowing the market to set the rents.  

• Use tax waivers and tax credits for accessory units that are rented at below market rates to those with incomes below a certain percentage of the median family income to encourage affordable accessory housing.