Commercial Broker Quarterly: Q1 2009 - GWCAR - Greater Washington Commercial Association of REALTORS

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Montgomery County Public Policy Update

GWCAR staff is closely monitoring legislation that would define heavy and light commercial vehicles and prohibit off-street parking of heavy commercial vehicles on residentially zoned property.

GWCAR on the Front Lines
Montgomery County Director of Economic Development Steve Silverman tells GWCAR he's looking into streamlining the development approval process of projects from the Planning Board all the way through the Department of Permitting Services to the County Council actions. What about deferring impact fees? Continue reading for highlights of Mr. Silverman's breakfast meeting with GWCAR.

GWCAR on the Front Lines - Maryland Breakfast Meeting with Montgomery County Economic Development Director Steve Silverman

On July 15, GWCAR hosted the County's newly appointed Director of Economic Development, Steve Silverman at a Maryland breakfast event in Rockville. Silverman spoke about his visions for the County over the next several years specifically talking about the current economic climate in the county along with the future of real estate development and his plans for going vertical. He highlighted both residential and mixed-used real estate projects in the Wheaton and White Flint areas. He also talked about how the County Executive and he would be hosting small business roundtable discussions and going out into the business community to talk about what the county can be doing better for the business community as a whole and their individual companies.

Additionally, Silverman talked about the cooperation amongst agencies with similar policy issues. In particular, he addressed concerns about the development approval process of projects and working from the Planning Board all the way through the Department of Permitting Services to the County Council actions. Silverman discussed issues from an economic development perspective and finding ways to streamline the process better for the real estate industry. Also, he asked whether or not it was important to defer impact fees during these tough economic times.

Silverman next addressed questions and concerns as they relate to the current economic climate. He told GWCAR members that now may be a good time to put alternative revenue sources on the table for discussion, in order to take the focus away from being primarily on just the real estate market. Given that Montgomery County has one of the highest taxes in the region, this would be a good time to consider ways to ease that burden and provide incentives locally for current businesses as well as future businesses coming to the county. Finally, Silverman stressed the urgency to keep the businesses that are already here and find ways to keep them thriving and creating local jobs in Montgomery County.

To read a copy of Mr. Silverman's bio please visit: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ded/pdf/Steve_Silverman_Bio.pdf

District 4 Special Election

Nancy Navarro was elected as the new Councilmember for District 4. District 4 includes all or parts of Aspen Hill, Burtonsville, Calverton, Cloverly, Colesville, Derwood, Fairland, Olney, Sandy Spring, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Wheaton and White Oak. There are 119,484 registered voters in District 4. Vote totals certified by the Montgomery County Board of Elections, including absentee and provisional ballots, showed that 12,014 ballots were cast (10.14% of registered voters). Navarro had 7,364 votes (60.91%). On the Republican side, Robin Ficker had 4,263 votes (35.26%). And the Green candidate, Gluck had 404 votes (3.34%). There were also 59 write-in votes cast.

Navarro was officially sworn into office on Wednesday, June 3 at the Council hearing room in Rockville. Her first legislative session as the new councilmember was on Tuesday June 9. GWCAR leadership will be scheduling a meeting with Councilmember Navarro within the coming months to talk about issues important to GWCAR and the entire real estate community.

ZTA 09-03, Zoning Text Amendment 09-03, Home Occupations and Residential Off-Street Parking:
Zoning Text Amendment No. 09-03 would amend the Zoning Ordinance to:

allow the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) to immediately issue a citation to a person violating home occupation provisions;

require DPS to conduct on-site inspections before approving home occupations;

require use and occupancy certificates for certain dwellings;

require a person conducting a home occupation to prove their home address;

clarify the number of allowable trips to a home occupation;

define heavy and light commercial vehicles and prohibit off-street parking of heavy commercial vehicles on residentially zoned property;

limit the amount of parking on the front yard of a residential parcel; and

make the text of the Zoning Ordinance more precise, concise, and decisive.

A public hearing was held on June 9 and GWCAR staff is closely monitoring this legislation. To read a full copy of the ZTA: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2009/090505/20090505_5.pdf

Bill 23-09, Unused Vehicles - Storage:
Bill 23-09 would amend Chapter 26 ("Housing and Building Maintenance Standards") and Chapter 48 ("Solid Waste") to (1) harmonize the treatment of "unused vehicles"; (2) authorize the Department of Housing and Community Affairs to grant an extension of time for storing an unused vehicle; and (3) shorten the permissible period for storing an unused vehicle from 90 to 30 days.

A public hearing was held on June 9 and GWCAR staff is closely monitoring this legislation. To read a full copy of the bill: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2009/090505/20090505_7.pdf