Alex Mani highlights permitting challenges for Baltimore developers at city hearing

The City Council of Baltimore convened on July 22, 2025, for a hearing focused on housing and economic development, where key stakeholders discussed the challenges and inefficiencies in the city's permitting and inspection processes. The meeting featured testimonies from developers and property owners who highlighted significant delays and procedural hurdles that impact construction timelines and business operations.

Alex Mani from Merit Properties opened the discussion, expressing gratitude for the city's initiative to engage with the development community. He emphasized the importance of streamlining the permitting process, citing that standard interior construction permits have taken an average of 104 working days, while use and occupancy permits averaged 62 days. Mani pointed out that these delays disrupt construction schedules and complicate tenant relocations. He noted that the requirement for separate applications for use and occupancy permits, which often involve redundant inspections, adds unnecessary complexity.

Mani also identified staffing shortages in the fire marshal's office as a contributing factor to inspection delays. He suggested that increasing personnel in inspection departments could significantly improve turnaround times. He shared a positive experience following a tornado that damaged Merit Clubs, where expedited permits were issued in just nine working days due to effective coordination with city officials. He urged that this expedited process should serve as a benchmark for future permitting timelines across the city.

Andrew Lansky, a property owner, echoed Mani's concerns, recounting his own struggles with the permitting process for a property at 3500 O'Donnell Street. He described a lengthy six-month wait for simple mechanical and electrical permits, which jeopardized his ability to open a restaurant and comply with liquor board requirements. Lansky's testimony underscored the frustration felt by many in the business community regarding the lack of clarity and efficiency in the permitting process.

The hearing concluded with a call for continued collaboration between the city and developers to enhance the permitting system, aiming for a more predictable and efficient process that would benefit a wide range of businesses in Baltimore. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for reform in the city's permitting and inspection procedures to foster economic development and support local businesses.