A “Greenfield Fee” is a surcharge to development proportional to its impact to natural resource lands.  Developers of large, sensitive, or rare parcels pay a larger amount; while developers of smaller, less critical parcels pay less.  Impacts would be assessed using a consistent and predictable formula, based on a variety of criteria.  Developers could provide mitigation on- or off-site to offset the fee.  For example, if proceeds from the sale of agricultural land are reinvested in agricultural activity locally (in the same or adjacent municipality).  

A greenfield fee would be most effective and equitable if it were applied regionally.  A local option approach might meet stiff resistance from property owners concerned about its impact on resale value or the cost of development; a regional or statewide program would have less impact because developers could not simply move their project to another municipality to avoid the fee. 

The revenue raised from greenfield fees should be dedicated to the acquisition of open space.  If assessed through a regional program, a portion of the fees would go to a local fund, and the remainder would be directed to a regional fund to support regional open space priorities.  

A greenfield fee will only be successful if it based on a consistent and predictable formula.  Integration of the formula into community-level decision support tools and project-level plans will help to assess the cost impacts of various land use controls, and will encourage project designs that minimize impact on a given site.   As with impact fees, some members of the development community may welcome the idea of a greenfield fee if it were relatively modest and applied in such a way as to bring more predictability to the permitting process.  There is currently a greenfield fee program operating successfully in Maryland. 

5.a    MAPC will collaborate with public and private stakeholders to develop a greenfield fee proposal

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