THE GAZETTE
Page A-6
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 r
Affordable housing advocates meet again to refine message Goal is to include incentives in new zoning rewrite n
BY AGNES BLUM STAFF WRITER
Leaders in Montgomery County’s efforts to provide affordable housing held a second meeting Nov. 6 with staff members of the county’s planning department to discuss in greater
detail how to further their goals under the new zoning code rewrite. The event in Silver Spring was organized by the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County, which works on issues such as workforce housing, mixed-use and mixedincome developments, inclusionary zoning, rental housing and home ownership. County planners recently rewrote the zoning code to modernize antiquated and re-
dundant zoning regulations and the County Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee’s released a draft of the zoning code text and map in October. On Tuesday and Thursday this week, the full council was scheduled to hold public hearings to get feedback and the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County plans to testify at the second hearing, said Lise Tracey, executive director of that group.
“We hope people will come out and support us,” Tracey said. In December, the committee will meet to consider the public hearing testimony and finalize the zoning code draft. While some affordable housing advocates feared the new zoning would reduce the number of units in the county, Rose Krasnow, the planning department’s deputy director, said the opposite was true: the new code could actually help promote
the construction of moderately priced dwelling units. During the second meeting held Nov. 6 — the first was on Oct. 7 — the group zeroed in more on some of the suggested changes discussed at the first meeting, Krasnow said. “I am hopeful,” she said. “I really think these are really significant changes that will really incentivize the production of more affordable housing.” For example, the group kept its idea of not counting bonus moderately priced units toward construction density and expanded it to not count any moderately priced unit toward a total project density, she said. Moderately priced dwelling units are part of a program started in 1974, which lets developers increase housing density in return for building belowmarket-rate units. Under the current code, projects with 20 or more units must designate 12.5 percent to
“We hope people will come out and support us.” Lise Tracey, executive director, Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County 15 percent of new units as affordable. In exchange, developers can build up to 22 percent more than the density permitted in the original zoning. Developers can get even greater density if they add extra units. About 15 people attended the Nov. 6 meeting, including county, nonprofit and privatesector representatives. ablum@gazette.net
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Obituary Anthony A. (Tony) Deliberti (Age 79) Tony Deliberti passed away November 9th, 2013, at Saratoga Hospital, NY, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
A legend in the Montgomery County Public School system, Mr. Deliberti, began his 28-year MCPS career at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School, then moved to Key Junior High School as both a classroom teacher in English, and an English Resource Teacher. When Key closed, Tony taught at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, and then at Gaithersburg High School. In the schools where he worked, Mr. Deliberti sponsored Key club – whose purpose was service to the school and community, Drama Club, coached basketball, served as a grade level class sponsor, and developed community service learning programs for MCPS. Always inculcating in his students the importance of service to other people and to the community. Tony had his student groups and clubs participate in many activities. For example, a group of high school students traveled to Costa Rica, and lived with local families while they built the village a recreation pavilion. At Gaithersburg High School, Tony’s students sponsored Thanksgiving dinner dances for senior citizens. The students made the food and decorations, and after dinner, danced with the seniors in attendance. Other students had feast or famine fund-raiser dinners. People bought tickets, and did not know until they showed up if they would have a delicious sitdown dinner, or sit on the floor and eat rice and water. The objective – to show the fickleness of poverty. Proceeds from these dinners went to local charities. Deliberti was an active member of the Red Cross, Knights of Columbus, and Kiwanis. He helped in rescue and relief efforts at the 9/11 sites in New York City, and taught English as second language. For 30 years, Mr. Deliberti, organized his famous New York Broadway Weekends - three plays in three days, plus sightseeing of NYC. Originally begun as a culminating activity for ninth graders, the trips expanded to include school staff and friends. Tony Deliberti was a giving person who devoted his life to the service of the children he taught, the people he worked with, friends he made, and family whom he cherished. Those who knew him, remember that he made people feel comfortable with his laughter, and his genuine enjoyment of life. Mr. Deliberti is survived by a brother William Deliberti, a sister, Eleanor Grippaldi, and a brother, Frank Deliberti. Family and friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at Snowden Funeral home, 246 N. Washington St., Rockville, MD 20850.
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A NEW beginning English speaking Church earnestly invites volunteers who could help start the church worship & praise Towards the World Church 4401 Muncaster Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853 Pastor John Lee - 240-329-6557 GD27010