By Neil Kenworthy
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore County Council approved a bill Monday that encourages developers to provide open space when they build or reconstruct houses and apartment buildings.
The bill, which was introduced on Oct. 3, was approved on a 7-0 vote that included three amendments sponsored by Councilwoman Vicki Almond, Councilman David Marks and Councilwoman Cathy Bevins.
The legislation requires developers to provide 1,000 square feet of open space per dwelling unit. The requirement can be met on-site or off-site. If the open space is fulfilled off-site, it must be within the council district where the development was proposed, according to Bill 73-16.
If a developer cannot meet the open space requirement on-site or off-site, a fee must be paid to Baltimore County. The fee would be used to provide open space within the same district the development is located.
Additionally, 20 percent of the fee will go to NeighborSpace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with community partners to protect and improve land. The group could use no more than 30 percent of the money received from the county for operating costs.
“The purpose of this legislation is to provide Baltimore County residents with quality open space,” said Almond, the council chairwoman who represents the 2nd District. “This legislation encourages and incentivizes developers to provide quality open space in their development plans at the very beginning of the process.”
The bill defines open space as a parcel of land that is on average 75 feet wide and is either left in its natural state or improved with amenities such as playgrounds or parks.
The amendments made minor adjustments to the bill, including one provision that says development plans approved prior to the act must follow the provisions of the new law. The third set of amendments states that development plans approved prior to this act must follow the provisions of this act.
Council members said the bill is the result of numerous compromises.
“I have to admit I wasn’t happy with several things,” said Councilman Julian E. Jones, Jr., representative of the 4th District. “But overall there is enough good here and enough compromise amongst all of us that we can move this bill forward so I’m happy to be here on board.”
Beth Miller, a member of the Green Towson Alliance, said she was concerned because the public did not have enough time to review the last minute amendments added to the bill before it was adopted by the council. She said she had been in contact with Marks, a representative of the 5th District, 35 minutes prior to the meeting and did not get to see the amendments.
“Your constituents are entitled to and expect transparency of government,” Miller said. “This bill was characterized at the work session as the product of years of negotiation and cooperation between various parties and yet some of those closely involved were caught off guard by measures that credit the market driven costs back to developers in ways that will significantly reduce fees.”
The county council also voted on a bill that authorizes Baltimore County Auxiliary Police officers to assist in code enforcement duties. These duties are assigned by the Baltimore County chief of police at the request of the director of permits.
Bill 72-16, also introduced on Oct. 3, was approved 7-0 with a set of amendments sponsored by Councilman Todd K. Crandell and Bevins.
This bill will be used as a one-year pilot program in the 6th and 7th districts as a cooperative effort between the police department and the Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections.
Auxiliary police are part-time reserves of the regular police force. This bill allows the police chief to assign police duties to the auxiliary police such as providing security at events, assisting county police officers on patrol duty and providing emergency services during natural disasters.
Both bills will take effect on Nov. 21.