Testimony to the Montgomery County Planning Board

ZTA 08-14

July 17, 2008

For many years the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County has been a steadfast supporter of the Agricultural Reserve and policies aimed as preserving the county’s agricultural land. We have actively supported the TDR program during this decade and are pleased to see approaches to expand beyond the residential use of TDRs.

In the ZTA 08-14 the League supports the use of buildable TDRs for non-residential development in the vicinity of transit stations. Requiring the use of these TDRs for residential density increase in the mixed use transit zone is consistent with our consensus position.

We recognize the need to make the use of the BLT or buildable TDR attractive to developers. Even though only 12 ½ % of the density gain requires the use of these TDRs, we trust that this utilization will significantly reduce residential development in the Agricultural Reserve.

We do have some concern that the pricing mechanism to establish payment in lieu of BLT or for a partial BLT may result in a payment so low that few BLTs will actually be purchased by developers. It is important that the option to make a payment rather than to present a BLT not result in a lower cost than the market price of a BLT. Either through a better pricing approach or a restriction on the in lieu use, the goal of actually transferring development from the Agricultural Reserve must be made achievable.

Thank you for considering the League’s concerns.