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Friend,
Tell the Council: No Blank Checks for Developers!
County Executive Marc Elrich has vetoed PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes for Developers) Expedited Bill 2-25—and for good reason. Here’s why this bill is a bad deal for residents:
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Massive Loss of Revenue: The bill gives away 100% of property taxes for 20 years to developers, costing the County hundreds of millions—money desperately needed for schools, infrastructure, and services.
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No Real Affordable Housing Gains: The bill barely increases affordable housing requirements. It doesn’t require any workforce housing and mostly subsidizes market-rate units.
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Corporate Giveaway, No Demonstrated Need: Developers would get millions in tax breaks even if they don't need them—with no proof their projects wouldn’t happen without subsidies.
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Undermines Local Businesses: Instead of revitalizing office spaces through programs like MOVE, the bill incentivizes pushing out businesses from partially occupied buildings.
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Unfair and Rushed: It rewards some developers while others pay their fair share. Worse, the Council rushed the bill through with minimal public input and no spending cap to protect taxpayers.
Call to Action:
The County Council votes TOMORROW at 10:05 AM on whether to override the veto.
Residents must act now!
Email Councilmembers today! Just click on link and tell them: Stand With Residents, Not Developers—Reject the Veto Override!
The at-large councilmembers:
Councilmember Gabe Albornoz
Councilmember Evan Glass
Councilmember Will Jawando - The only one to listen to residents and voted NO on PILOT
Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles
Email and phone here and pasted below Contact Us - Montgomery County Council, Maryland -Not into emails, then call, but be heard, because your voice matters!
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What an EPIC conversation! Over 100 residents came together alongside Co-sponsors: Aspen Hill Civic Association, Connecticut Avenue Estates Civic Association, Kemp Mill Neighborhood Alerts, and the Montgomery County Community Coalition to learn about More Housing NOW, the PILOT program, and the potential impacts on Montgomery County neighborhoods.
Thank you to Council Vice President Will Jawando for joining us in Wheaton, listening to community concerns, and answering residents' many questions, and to all the residents who made time in their schedules to learn more.
  
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Tonight, April 28th at 7:00pm - Silver Spring Civic Building (Spring Room), Veterans Pl., Silver Spring, MD
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WORKSESSIONS - ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
EPIC encourages residents to engage with elected officials, stay informed by attending public meetings and joining discussions.
Montgomery County Planning Worksession #4
The Planning Board’s next work session on the plan is Thursday, April 24. Work sessions can be viewed live or on demand. The anticipated work session schedule is below. Based on the high volume of public testimony received, additional time has been allocated for the Planning Board’s review.
- Work session #4, May 1: Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Design between “Nodes”
- Work session #5, May 15: Housing, Community Facilities, and Schools
- Work session #6, May 22: Historic Resources, Environmental Sustainability, Parks, Trails, and Open Space
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