An advisory group with a broad spectrum of viewpoints is expected to determine an increase in fees paid by developers in Anne Arundel.
The assignment for the group created by the Anne Arundel County Council is to review a report supporting County Executive John R. Leopold?s proposal to raise impact fees ? money developers pay to expand roads and schools for new houses ? from $4,000 to between $20,000 and $40,000 per new house.
“We came to the realization that we needed a different type of input on this bill,” said Council Chairwoman Cathy Vitale, R-District 5.
The group would likely include developers, business leaders, educators, residents, environmentalists and nonprofits, she said.The names are expected to be announced by the end of the week.
The group, which will devise numbers that officials hope will find support from Leopold and the council, will have a tough task, as the council has all but rejected Leopold?s proposal.
Leopold has called for a steep increase in fees because the cost of construction has far outpaced the revenue from the fees, forcing taxpayers to pay for school and road expansion. Smart-growth groups and educators spoke in favor of the bill during Tuesday?s council meeting.
“It is time for a change. … This is an outdated system that is not adequately addressing school needs,” Board of Education member Eugene Peterson said.
However, the council has said the figures are too high, as well as inaccurate, and could stifle the county?s economic growth and affordable housing opportunities.
“I?m concerned that [teachers] are going to suffer if we do not work on this bill,” said Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4, an ardent opponent of Leopold?s bill.
To accommodate the group?s work, the council decided to delay a vote and public comment on the bill until March 17.
The group will take the place of a consultant, who the council had said would offer objective analysis of a report.
During the two public hearings, many people offered their support for an advisory group, though a majority were either developers or anti-growth advocates.
The last time the county increased its impact fees, a special advisory group was formed and took six months to hammer out an agreeable increase, which was less than initially proposed.
