City eyes affordable housing, green buildings

‘‘The city realizes that as we grow, we need to take more of a lead in these areas,” said City Council President Frederick Smalls (Ward 2).

Smalls said the city is considering incentives to promote affordable housing and green standards, but could not provide specifics. In the case of green buildings, special requirements for city facilities are being considered, he said.

Annapolis, Gaithersburg and Rockville are the only municipalities in Maryland with affordable housing laws, according to the Maryland Municipal League. Only Baltimore and Gaithersburg have green building laws, according to the league.

According to the cities’ Web sites, Gaithersburg reduces permit fees for developers who design green properties, and Baltimore requires that commercial development receiving city aid be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Environmentally friendly buildings use less power and produce less heat than non-green buildings, said Tom Lee, advocacy co-chairman for the U.S. Green Building Council National Capital Region.

Buildings earn points for green practices such as water and energy efficiency, according to the council. These practices include redeveloping existing buildings, building within a half mile of public transportation, incorporating open space into a development and building reflective roofs that reduce heat.

Affordable housing laws in Annapolis, Gaithersburg and Rockville limit assistance to qualified low-income buyers. In Annapolis, the threshold is $51,625 for a one-person household and $59,000 for a two-person household. In Gaithersburg, it is between 60 percent and 80 percent of the area median income, which in 2006 was between $54,180 and $72,240. In Rockville, using a similar percentage, it is $39,720 for a one-person household and $45,360 for a two-person household.