2025 Annual Report - Report - Page 42
Charles County Government Annual Report • 2025
QUALITY OF LIFE
CHARLES COUNTY TACKLES HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND ADVANCES
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES
Charles County strengthened its commitment to
Affordable Housing
p r o v i d in g s a f e , s t a b l e ,
Report
and af fordable housing.
The Count y’s Af fordable
Housing Repor t, prepared by the work group
e s t ablis h e d in 2023,
highlights that over onethird of households earn
l e s s t h a n 8 0% o f t h e
Area Median Income,
with many spending more than 30% of their income
on housing. Rising home prices (more than $460,000
for the median home) and rents exceeding $2,300 for
a t wo-bedroom apartment place local essential workers, including teachers, ser vice employees, and law
enforcement, at risk of being priced out of the community
they serve.
Charles County
Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management • 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, MD • Maryland Relay: 7-1-1 (Relay TDD: 1-800-735-2258)
To address this challenge, the report recommends a comprehensive mix of strategies: mandator y inclusionar y
zoning, expanded accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and
tiny home options, “starter homes,” and Missing Middle
housing near transit. Financial tools include a Payment In
Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, expanded rental and homebuyer assistance, and a dedicated Housing Trust Fund.
Countywide support measures, such as a new Affordable
Housing Board, rental licensing, and limits on corporate
ownership of single-family rentals, aim to ensure long-term
sustainability. Implementing these policies is expected
to add up to 240–260 affordable units annually, meeting
current and future demand while supporting workforce
retention, economic growth, and community equity.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Parallel to housing initiatives, the Count y launched the 2026
Comprehensive Plan update, a state-mandated framework guiding land use, infrastructure, transportation, environmental protection,
and housing for the next 20–25 years. Building on the 2016 plan —
which emphasized rural preservation and targeted development in
northern areas — the new update focuses on enhancing development districts, supporting economic and commercial growth, and
ensuring equitable access to community amenities.
Key areas of review include the Waldor f Urban Redevelopment
Corridor, transit corridors, available commercial and industrial land,
and emerging redevelopment opportunities. Community engagement is central, with surveys, pop-up planning days, and educational
outreach designed to gather broad public input. Feedback will help
shape policies addressing transportation for all modes, housing
diversity, and infrastructure improvements, ensuring the County’s
growth reflects residents’ needs and values. The
plan is expected to be adopted by the Count y
Commissioners in early 2027, setting a vision and
actionable roadmap for the next decade.
Learn more: www.shapingcharles.org/
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CharlesCountyMD.gov
