The Columbia Association board of directors has approved a resolution that the Town Center redevelopment plans have no less than 10 percent middle-income and 10 percent moderate-income housing.
Moderate-income housing serves people who earn $35,000 to $60,000, and middle-income housing serves those who make up to $110,000 a year.
Plans to add 3,500 to 5,000 homes in Town Center are part of a draft master plan that came out of last year's county-sponsored charrette. The county will present it to the Planning Board for approval in April. A final decision will be made by the County Council.
Interfaith Coalition for Affordable Housing, an advocacy group, presented the resolution to the board at Thursday night's meeting. The board changed the resolution's wording to include the phrase "no less than," hoping that builders might exceed the 10 percent mark.
Patrick von Schlag, who represents River Hill on the board, was one of two members that abstained from voting on the resolution, calling it premature.
"This is too early, and we don't know the total number of units there are going to be," von Schlag said after the meeting. "We need to make sure that we are not limiting our ability to build the housing that we need."
Kings Contrivance representative Phil Marcus voted for the resolution, which passed, 5-4.
"It is a goal, and I think that for CA to support it lends some credibility and gives the county a reason to implement it," he said.
Marcus said Columbia, a community built on diversity, should have economic diversity, as well.
"There are going to be people living in these various residential areas, and I think it is important for people to be exposed to different people from different economic classes," he said.
tyrone.richardson@baltsun.com
