Howard County Council Legislative Session – June 1, 2026
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Howard County Council Legislative Session – June 1, 2026
The Howard County Council held a hybrid legislative session on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included introductions of new legislation, final consideration of previously introduced bills, and numerous amendments. Key actions involved approving zoning changes for age-restricted cottage clusters (CB25) and enacting a temporary moratorium on data center development (CB31) with a task force to study impacts. All votes were unanimous except where noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved journals of legislative sessions on May 5 and May 20, 2026.
- Approved minutes from five budget work sessions and public hearings in May 2026.
Discussion Items
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CB25-2026 (ZRA 224) – Age-Restricted Adult Housing Cottage Clusters: The bill originally allowed two-story units up to 900 sq ft footprint. After extensive debate, the council passed Amendment 9 (late-filed) which redefined the dwellings as single-story detached units, footprint no more than 1,200 sq ft, no basement, and at least four units around a common courtyard. Other amendments: Amendment 1 (added Newtown zones), Amendment 2 (increased max height from 20 to 22 feet for roof pitch), Amendment 7 (required most recent universal design features from DPZ). Amendment 8 (affordability requirement) failed for lack of a second. The main motion as amended passed unanimously.
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CB31-2026 (S.M.A.R.T. Siting Act – Data Center Moratorium): Councilmember Rigby’s bill proposed an 18-month moratorium on new data processing centers and creation of a task force. Multiple amendments were debated:
- Amendment 1 (exempted previously approved project modifications) passed 4-1 (Walsh no).
- Amendment 2 (original version setting expertise areas and public process) was amended by Amendment 1 to Amendment 2 (requires recommendations, not just consideration, and adds Climate Action Plan impact assessment) – passed 4-1 (Walsh no).
- Amendment 2 to Amendment 2 (strikes data center developer/operator expertise, adds council nomination of members, caps task force at 7) failed 2-3 (Jones, Walsh, Youngman no).
- Amendment 3 to Amendment 2 (revised: strikes charter reference, council nominates 1 each, county executive nominates up to 6, total up to 11) passed unanimously.
- Amendment 4 to Amendment 2 (changes deadline from 18 months to November 2, 2027) passed 4-1 (Walsh no).
- Final Amendment 2 as amended then passed 4-1 (Walsh no). The main motion (CB31 as amended) passed unanimously.
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CR6-2026 – Appointment of James R. Bartlett to Historic Preservation Commission: Removed from table, Amendment 1 adjusted expiration date, passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- CB25-2026: Passed as amended (all votes yes). Established new age-restricted cottage cluster zoning with single-story, 1,200 sq ft max footprint, no basement, universal design, and optional design review.
- CB31-2026: Passed as amended (all votes yes). Enacts a moratorium on new data center development until November 2, 2027, and creates an 11-member task force (5 council nominees + up to 6 county executive appointees) to study impacts and recommend regulations.
- Appointments: All 13 council resolutions for appointments to various commissions (CR52-55, CR57-73) passed unanimously via consent; CR56 (J. Jason Zhao) was tabled; CR6 (James R. Bartlett) passed as amended after being removed from table.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. This is the council's June legislative session in which we introduce new legislation and give final consideration to legislation previously introduced and heard. This legislation session, this legislative session is being conducted as a hybrid meeting, which is available in person and virtual via WebEx. It is also available to the public through live stream on the Howard County Council website and broadcast on channels 44 and 1071. The council will hold a hybrid public hearing on Monday, June 15th at 7 p.m. on the legislation introduced this evening. Testimony can be given in person or virtually via WebEx. Written testimony can be sent to Council Mail at Howard County MD.gov. You may sign up in advance through the council's website or you may sign up in person in front of the Banneker room via a laptop Monday, June 15th, prior to the start of public hearing. When signing up to testify, you will be asked if you are a student in grades K through 12 so that you can be called to testify early during the public hearing. And whether your testimony will be provided in person or virtual via WebEx. If you select virtual, you will be provided instructions for logging into the WebEx session. If needed, the council will hold a work session on new legislation on Tuesday, June 22nd at 10 a.m. in the C Running Gray Room. Public participation for these meetings will be available virtually via WebEx and viewed live streamed through the County Council's website. At this time, I'm going to do a roll call for the council members. Miss Rigby? Here. Miss Young. Here. Miss Walsh? Here. Mr. Youngman? Here. And I am Opal Jones. We will now recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Moving on to our agenda. We will begin today's session with approval of journals and minutes of meetings. I move to approve the journal of legislative session May 5th and legislative session May 20th. Second. Ms. Harry, could you please call the vote to approve the journal of legislative sessions on May 5th and May 20th? Chair Jones? Yes. Ms. Young? Yes. Miss Rigby? Yes. Miss Walsh? Yes. Mr. Youngman. Yes. The motion to approve the journals pass. I move to approve the minutes of the budget work session. Operating budget work session number two on May 5th. The general budget public hearing on number three. Number three, uh, May 7th.
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