Baltimore City Council’s Land Use and Transportation Committee is again considering a bill that would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as basement apartments, converted attics, carriage houses and new backyard structures across Baltimore. If approved, it could incentivize developers to buy large Bolton Hill properties and cut them into multiple units or build backyard additions.
BHCA’s board voted to oppose it as written – Council Bill 26-0195 – at its November meeting. BHCA has consistently said that while it favors allowing resident property owners to add an apartment within their existing building as a matter of right, it does not favor making it easier for non-resident investors to buy and convert rowhouses into apartment buildings.
Ostensibly to comply with a new state law, some council members are trying to revive elements of a bill – Council bill 25-0066 – that BHCA and many other community residents successfully opposed earlier in the year. The new state law requires local governments to enable owners of single-family dwellings to create what is sometimes called a “mother-in-law” unit on their property.
The committee took testimony and discussed the bill on Nov. 5 but made no decisions. There was no published information on amendments or analysis. The meeting lasted approximately three hours and recessed until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. BHCA’s position was announced. About a dozen people testified, evenly divided.
“We support the state ADU law. The current city council bill goes too far,” said Charlie Duff, who chaired a BHCA task force to review the bill and spoke at BHCA’s Nov. 3 meeting. As with the earlier council bill, Bolton Hill’s two council members take different positions on the ADU issue. James Torrence, representing the neighborhood from McMechen Street north, is opposed, while Zac Blanchard, whose district includes the south part of Bolton Hill, is friendly to it.
