Chairman Kinstler and members of the Housing Commission:

The League of Women Voters of Howard County applauds the Commission for proposing these Land/Real Property Acquisition Procedures. Having a Land Acquisition Committee made up of three members of the Housing Commission is prudent given the usual need for timely consideration and flexibility to consider potential properties.

Community Involvement. The League supports the notification of existing adjoining residential property owners if the property under consideration will consist of three or more rental or ownership Housing Commission units. Additional notification will be given to the County Council and any community association that represents the area. The League requests that the Housing Commission amend this section to include the acquisition by the Housing Commission of any commercial property that is adjacent to or across the street from any residential development. Notice in commercial acquisition should be given to adjacent commercial development.

Public meeting. A public meeting can be requested by two or more adjoining property owners, any member of the County Council or a community association provides solid public process. The League recommends that commercial adjoining property owners can request a public meeting. The League notes an absence of a time frame for this public meeting. We suggest two weeks notice be included in the advertisement for the date of the public meeting. The League requests that the Department of Planning and Zoning comments be made available prior to the Housing Commission's public meeting not after. The surrounding residential or commercial owners have a right to know the technical comments of the County 's Planning Department prior to the public meeting.

Housing Commission Developments on Non-Residentially Zoned Property. The proposed language of 10 acres a year is not in conformance with the recently passed County Council Legislation, County Council Bill 72-2007 effective January 1, 2008, Section128 K. 2.d, states that the Planning Board may approve up to a maximum of 12 acres of housing commission housing developments on non-residentially zoned land in a three year calendar period.

The League requests a written copy of the Commission's approved Land/Real Property Acquisition Procedures policy once it is adopted.

Thank you for the opportunity to present our comments.

Grace Kubofcik
Co-president