Impact fees to build in Arundel may soar

Plan would hurt Fort Meade growth, critics say

"That's why we are here tonight with a hastily made bill with no input from this body, with no task force," Middlebrooks, a Severn Republican, told a room packed with developers at the Feb. 7 hearing. "It was just to make me look like I'm beating up on you guys after I took your money," he said, referring to his view of Leopold's motives.

Tonight, the council will hold a second public hearing on the bill and could vote on it. Council members have previously suggested killing the bill and submitting their own version. But in recent days, county officials, Nicholas and Sutherland have been fine-tuning the fee structure.

"We're close to resolving this," said Alan R. Friedman, the county's governmental relations director. "Why start all over again?"

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Proposed fees

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is seeking to increase impact fees on new construction, replacing the flat fee of $4,904 on new homes with a progressive one and raising the charge on commercial buildings as much as fourteenfold.

His proposal, which could be up for a vote tonight, calls for the following fee structure:

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

One bedroom $2,636 Two bedrooms $11,169 Three bedrooms $18,669 Four bedrooms $26,407 Five bedrooms $37,017

TOWNHOUSES One bedroom $1,656 Two bedrooms $15,178 Three bedrooms $24,393 Four bedrooms or more $33,574

OFFICE SPACE (per 1,000 sq. ft.) Less than 100,000 sq. ft. $7,910 100,000 to 199,999 sq.ft. $6,869 More than 200,000 sq. ft. $6,130