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Council presses administration as Baltimore reports faster permit turnaround; officials agree to advisory group and consolidation review
Summary
At a Feb. 10 Housing & Economic Development Committee hearing, administration officials said technical fixes have cut permit backlogs and median residential issuance time, while council members and developers pressed for a consolidation plan, a monthly feedback loop and staffing to address persistent bottlenecks.
Baltimore City—s Housing & Economic Development Committee on Feb. 10 heard competing accounts of progress on the city—s new Accela permitting system as council leaders demanded clearer authority, a formal feedback loop and a timetable for consolidation.
Council President Z. Cohen opened the hearing by saying the city—s broader revival depends on a permitting system that "works for everyone" and called for three concrete steps: naming who is in charge of permitting, establishing a monthly working group with user representatives and producing a six‑month plan to consolidate permitting under a single agency or leader per the "Be More Fast" plan. "This is Baltimore's moment," Cohen said, and added the council will "demand corrective action when something is not…
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