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Gov. Moore touts $1.4B Baltimore transit plan — but key questions remain
The Baltimore Sun, April 6, 2026
Governor Wes Moore has introduced a plan to develop the areas around Baltimore’s transit stations, creating mixed-use developments with a mix of homes and commercial space. These types of developments are designed to increase economic mobility by increasing physical mobility, allowing residents to commute without the need for cars. Officials estimate that these projects could result in more than $1 billion in total tax revenue. RESI Chief Economist Daraius Irani believes these estimates may be optimistic, although they are likely including both direct and indirect impacts. Despite those doubts, he still states that the plan makes “great sense in leveraging assets to help increase housing availability.”
Baltimore County to test $30K impact fee cap as officials push for housing boost
The Baltimore Sun, April 7, 2026
On April 6, the Baltimore County Council voted to place a $30,000 cap on fees charged to residential developers. Since these fees were originally implemented in 2019 at $6 per square foot, they have produced less than a million dollars in total revenue, far less than originally expected. Supporters hope that this change will spur additional development and reduce the final cost to homebuyers. These fees were intended to help fund schools and roads in the county without the need for broader tax increases, and there are some concerns that reduced fees will result in more pressure to find other sources of revenue. RESI Chief Economist Daraius Irani believes there are valid concerns on both sides and noted that the flat cap disproportionately benefits the development of more expensive homes since only larger homes exceed the $30,000 cap under the per-square-foot model.
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