Baltimore County Council approves bill aimed at accommodating population growth

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore County Council approved an amendment that supporters say will help the county grow responsibly as new housing developments may threaten the stability of the public schools.

The bill calls for an amendment to the county's "Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance," which would ensure there are enough roads, water and schools to accommodate the expected population growth.

The vote passed the council, 4-2.

A 2018 study from Sage Policy Group predicts that by 2027, nearly every Baltimore County high school will be overcrowded.  

Councilman Julian Jones told the Baltimore Banner, "Nine out of 176 Baltimore County public schools are overcrowded, and that number is expected to rise."

The amendment would establish an oversight committee to ensure new housing does not overwhelm area schools. It would tighten restrictions on developers and consider redistricting students to lower-capacity schools if needed.

"We do have certain areas where we could redistrict," said Councilman Mike Ertel of District 6. "But then we have others where the only way out of the crisis is either building new schools, adding additions to those schools, or convincing kids to take a much longer bus ride to a magnet school."