Forthcoming bills from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore aim too boost the supply of affordable housing in the state, and one proposal relating to bonus density and missing middle housing is sure to grab attention, as it shines the governor’s spotlight on an otherwise largely local issue.
In the coming weeks, Moore, a Democrat, is expected to introduce three housing-related bills, including the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024.
Details are still scarce, but one provision that stands out would provide a state-mandated 30% bonus density option for certain kinds of development projects — including in areas zoned for multifamily or mixed-use that are within a mile of a rail transit station — as long as those projects set aside at least 25% of their units as affordable to households making 60% or less of the area median income. Developers wouldn’t be required to avail themselves of it, but neither could local governments bar them from doing so.
