Bel Air commissioner aims to preserve open space by increasing fee to bypass requirement

Developers looking to build in Bel Air may be forced to pay higher fees to dodge open space requirements should a new ordinance be passed by the Town Commissioners.

Per town code, 15% of a development project’s total area is required to be reserved for open space. Open space can be amenities like a tennis court and playgrounds or a grass field.

Developers can pay a fee to waive the requirement, but Town Commissioner Jakob Taylor, who introduced the proposal, believes the current...