The following article was submitted by 5th District County Councilman David Marks about his legislation that places a cap on development impact fees.
On April 6, the Baltimore County Council passed legislation sponsored by Councilman David Marks that will place a cap on development impact fees pending a review by the Department of Planning.
The legislation caps fees at $30,000 per unit pending an evaluation by planners to determine the appropriateness of calculating these assessments. The legislation would restrict the methodology to areas that are occupiable, and it would exempt any construction on a single lot recorded before the original impact fee legislation was enacted in 2019.
“This legislation should significantly lower housing costs for many homeowners, and it will help us determine the appropriate cost for charging developers—particularly those advancing large projects—how much to pay for infrastructure costs,” Marks commented.
The County Council also passed legislation that prohibits the development of panhandle lots throughout the Perry Hall area. Right now, panhandle lots are only prohibited in Perry Hall’s Honeygo area. Panhandle lots are real estate parcels with a narrow strip of land that provide access from a street to a buildable, back area. They are sometimes used to cram homes into areas that provide greater density.
“I appreciate the support of the Perry Hall Improvement Association as we look to ensure high-quality future development,” Marks concluded.