Oct 12, 2026 - PHP Committee Worksession

The Montgomery County Council Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee held a worksession on Oct. 12, 2026 (the metadata lists Oct. 13) covering housing-code enforcement, programs for aging in place, and transit-oriented development (TOD). The Office of Legislative Oversight report on code enforcement identified gaps in standardized practices, data, and enforcement of multifamily properties; DHCA described recent operational and application-system improvements. Committee members requested a written response to outstanding questions and a framework for community engagement and a code-enforcement strategic plan within 30 days. DHCA also reported that landlord-tenant fees collected $9.1 million in FY25, compared with a $6.2 million code-enforcement budget. No new contract award or purchasing decision was discussed.

On aging-in-place programs, officials reported that HARP had used $2.4 million of $3.1 million available to modify 254 properties. Committee members reached consensus to pursue a bill increasing the Design for Life tax credit to 75% of project costs, up to $10,000, retaining the $100,000 annual cap, and removing the primary-residence requirement; staff were asked to begin drafting, with timing to be confirmed. For TOD, the committee discussed applications for Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Friendship Heights, including potential enterprise-zone tax effects and grant eligibility. OMB was asked to provide, within 48 hours, a timeline for a fiscal-impact analysis; the council’s resolution and any enterprise-zone decisions remain pending. The briefing noted $250,000 in current TOD-related funding eligibility.