The Montgomery County Council voted to increase fees on developers and up the recordation tax in test votes on the County's growth policy:
In a series of test votes on changes to the county's growth policy, a five-member majority solidified around proposals they say will tighten controls on development and allow some growth. Final action is expected Tuesday.
The council backed plans that would, for example, increase the transportation tax that pays for roads or transit on a new single-family detached house from $6,264 to $10,649 and increase the schools tax that pays for classrooms on the same house from $9,111 to $20,456. . . .
The tax plan was backed by a majority, with members Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) and Nancy Floreen (D-At large) abstaining, and Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda) and Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring) absent for the vote. Council member George L. Leventhal (D-At large) missed the day-long session because he is recovering from injuries sustained last week in a car accident.
Council members Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), Berliner, Marc Elrich (D-At Large), Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County) and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) began coalescing late last week around a Berliner-Elrich plan to recalibrate traffic tests and require developers to pay extra fees to diminish the impact of their projects on roads and schools.
The council did find unanimity on one issue: Members backed an increase in the recordation tax paid at closing on real-estate transactions. Trachtenberg, who proposed the increase, said the plan could bring an extra $10 million annually to pay for rental subsidies and infrastructure.
Developers think that the new fees are too "onerous" and County Executive Ike Leggett worries that the increase in the recordation tax will discourage first-time home buyers.
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Smarter Growth thinks the plan doesn't do enough to encourage more growth near Metro stops. They needn't worry too much. When I was at the Planning Board yesterday, planning staffer Josh Sloan explained to me that the proposed new traffic test for development would not prevent virtually any project from being built in Bethesda.
