Homebuilders were noticeably missing from a group studying whether to increase development fees in Anne Arundel.
“I wouldn?t use the word ?miffed,? but we would have liked to be at the table,” said Eric DeVito, president of the county chapter of the Home Builders Association of Maryland.
The committee was created by the Anne Arundel County Council to examine ways to increase impact fees ? money paid by developers to expand schools and roads.
The County Council is at odds with County Executive John R. Leopold?s proposal to raise all impact fees significantly.
Housing developers are arguably the biggest group affected by impact fees, though officials have said the developers would pass the fee increase to the customers.
The group consists of residents, affordable-housing and smart-growth advocates, and a representative from a business development group.
Council Chairwoman Cathy Vitale, R-District 5, said the homebuilders were not included because they had hired their own consultant and studied the issue.
“[The group] will consider [the homebuilders?] analysis just as they will the [county?s] analysis,” she said.
The County Council also is asking the county administration whether its consultant can develop a fee schedule based on a square footage, similar to what Howard does. The current proposal in Anne Arundel is based on the number of bedrooms.
The group also has a tough schedule. Vitale said the group must submit a preliminary report by March 17, though Robert Neall, chairman of the group, said that report may just say it received all the data on impact fees.
“We?ve got to strike a balance between allowing growth to continue, but not let it bring down the quality of life in the county,” he said.
On board
The Impact Fee Advisory Committee will examine ways Anne Arundel can raise its impact fees. It consists of:
» Robert Neall, chairman of the group and Chief Executive Officer of Priority Partners;
» Bob Burdon, president of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce;
» Al Johnston, a Severna Park resident and a member of the last impact fee advisory committee;
» Dwight Taylor, president of development for the Corporate Office Properties Trust;
» Dan Ellis, executive director of Arundel Habitat for Humanity;
» Jerry Walker, vice president of DCA Imaging Systems;
» Ann Fligsten, lawyer and director of the Growth Action Network;
» Bob Gallagher, riverkeeper of the Rhode and West rivers;
» Sam Georgiou, county resident.
