UPDATE: County Executive Johnny Olszewski has vetoed the measure.

Original story below…

TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Council this week passed a new measure that will require developers to receive approval from a special school capacity committee before they can obtain a building permit for new homes in areas where nearby schools are oversubscribed.

The Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance passed 4-2 and will apply to areas where schools are 105% or more over their state-allotted capacity. Developers previously had to wait until capacity opened up in an area to build, but the new law aims to ease school overcrowding issues in Baltimore County.

The new law will require that developers get approval from a special school capacity committee, which will be staffed by county officials and a school superintendent’s pick, before they can get a building permit.

Baltimore County is the latest jurisdictions in Maryland to adopt such a growth management regulation. Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County have already adopted similar ordinances to ease school overcrowding.

The task force that recommended the current ordinance was appointed by the Baltimore County Council and the County Executive. The task force had recommended lowering what the county considers to be an overcrowded school from 115% capacity to 110%.

“As Councilman, I have worked to preserve more green space, build three new schools, and prioritize senior-restricted development that does not overwhelm our schools,” said Councilman David Marks, who co-sponsored the legislation. “That’s working – we are below or at capacity in nearly all our local schools – but last night’s vote will help ensure structural changes that prevent overcrowding in the future.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.