EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: President Dixon
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Title
Baltimore Affordable Housing Program
FOR the purpose of establishing a program for certain purposes; providing for the administration of that program; defining certain terms; and generally relating to promoting certain types of housing.
Body
BY adding
Article 13 - Housing and Urban Renewal
Section(s) 2A-1 through 2A-6, to be under the new subtitle designation,
"Subtitle 2A. Affordable Housing Program"
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
SECTION 1. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 13. Housing and Urban Renewal
SUBTITLE 2A. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM
§ 2A-1. DEFINITIONS.
(A) IN GENERAL.
IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.
(B) COMMISSIONER.
"COMMISSIONER" MEANS THE COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE.
(C) DEVELOPER.
"DEVELOPER" MEANS ANY PERSON, FIRM, PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATION, JOINT VENTURE, CORPORATION, OR OTHER FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY OR COMBINATION OF ENTITIES THAT DEVELOPS OR OWNS RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE.
(D) ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD.
"ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD" MEANS A HOUSEHOLD WITH AN AGGREGATE ANNUAL INCOME OF LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 150% OF THE MEDIAN AREA INCOME, ADJUSTED FOR HOUSEHOLD SIZE, AS PUBLISHED AND ANNUALLY UPDATED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
(E) ELIGIBLE PROPERTY.
"ELIGIBLE PROPERTY" MEANS ANY STRUCTURE OR LOT IN BALTIMORE CITY THAT MEETS OR, ON COMPLETION OF RENOVATION OR CONSTRUCTION, WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DWELLINGS SET FORTH IN THE ZONING CODE AND THE BUILDING, FIRE, AND RELATED CODES OF BALTIMORE CITY.
(F) NEIGHBORHOOD.
"NEIGHBORHOOD" MEANS AN AREA DELINEATED BY A COMMONLY ACCEPTED BOUNDARY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING.
(G) PROGRAM.
"PROGRAM" MEANS THE BALTIMORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.
§ 2A-2. FINDINGS.
(A) IN GENERAL.
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE FIND AS FOLLOWS.
(B) NEED FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND OTHER PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
(C) BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING A STRONG AND STABLE MIDDLE CLASS, WILL STIMULATE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY, AND INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL.
(D) LIMITATIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR.
PRIVATE SECTOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES, AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, HAVE NOT ALONE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS OR DEVELOPMENTS OR TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THE BROAD RANGE OF INCOMES THAT WILL LEAD TO ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
(E) CAPABILITIES OF CITY.
BALTIMORE CITY CAN ASSEMBLE AND PREPARE SITES AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO DEVELOPERS, ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE HOUSING IN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND OTHER PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
§ 2A-3. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
(A) IN GENERAL.
THERE IS A BALTIMORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
(1) PROMOTING ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE HOUSING IN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS; AND
(2) INCREASING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND OTHER PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
(B) ADMINISTRATION.
THE COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM CONSISTENT WITH THIS SUBTITLE.
(C) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.
(1) THE COMMISSIONER, IN HIS OR HER DISCRETION, SHALL USE PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
(I) THE ACQUISITION, STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION, AND DEMOLITION OF REAL PROPERTY BY THE CITY {CITY CODE ARTICLE 13, SUBTITLE 2};
(II) THE RELOCATION OF HOUSEHOLDS, WHEN THAT RELOCATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION, AND DEMOLITION OF REAL PROPERTY BY THE CITY {CITY CODE ARTICLE 13, SUBTITLE 2}; AND
(III) THE ADMINISTRATION AND MARKETING OF THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION.
(2) THE COMMISSIONER, IN HIS OR HER DISCRETION, SHALL PROVIDE APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, INCLUDING GRANTS AND LOANS, TO DEVELOPERS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
(I) THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, FINANCING, AND REFINANCING OF ELIGIBLE PROPERTY FOR OWNER OR RENTAL OCCUPANCY;
(II) RENTAL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE ON BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS FOR OCCUPANCY IN ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES;
(III) THE ORDERLY AND SUSTAINABLE PLANNING, PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING IN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS; AND
(IV) THE PROVISION OF HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
§ 2A-4. RULES AND REGULATIONS.
(A) COMMISSIONER MAY ADOPT.
THE COMMISSIONER MAY ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE.
(B) APPROVAL BY BOARD OF ESTIMATES.
ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THIS SECTION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES BEFORE THEY MAY TAKE EFFECT.
(C) FILING WITH LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE.
A COPY OF ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THIS SECTION MUST BE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BEFORE THEY TAKE EFFECT.
§ 2A-5. PROGRAM CAPITALIZATION.
IT IS THE INTENT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE THAT THE PROGRAM BE CAPITALIZED ANNUALLY BY APPROPRIATIONS OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE.
§ 2A-6. ANNUAL REPORT.
THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ISSUE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT DESCRIBES THE PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PRECEDING YEAR.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.
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