As reported in the Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore County Council recently voted to lower the waiver fee charged to developers who do not set aside land for recreation or open space when they build housing developments.  The legislation was sponsored by Councilman John Olszewski, Sr.

A council resolution lowering the fees — in some categories nearly 90 percent — passed in a 6-1 vote, with Council Chairman Tom Quirk voting against it. . . Under the new rates, a developer of a 13-unit housing development on 10 acres would pay about $23,500, compared to more than $56,600 under the previous fees, according to figures provided by Harrison [Vice President of the The Home Builders Association of Maryland].

Proponents of the change argued that it was warranted by a drop in real estate values, and envision that lowering the fee will encourage developers to take the waiver, rather than set aside small tracts of land of limited recreational value, according to the article.

For more information, see the full story from the Sun.