Baltimore County Council members seek to keep control over development

Two Baltimore County Council members are pushing back against efforts by County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., which they see as a threat to their authority, to make it easier to repurpose aging strip malls and empty office buildings and speed up housing production. The Democratic county executive introduced legislation Jan. 16 to permit multiple-use developments without council approval in certain areas that would be targeted for redevelopment in the 2030 Master Plan. The bill would also offer incentives to developers who build affordable housing.