ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Wes Moore announced the first Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects on August 5, 2025, selecting six initiatives to test streamlined permitting processes for major developments across the state. The Maryland Coordinated Permitting Review Council, established by Moore’s December 2024 executive order on economic competitiveness, aims to reduce bureaucratic delays in state and local approvals, fostering business expansion and job creation. The Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects include diverse developments in Cecil, Montgomery, Baltimore, Frederick and Wicomico counties, ranging from logistics centers to residential and agritourism facilities.
“We refuse to let red tape stand between our state and a growing economy,” Moore said. “By streamlining the permitting process, we will help get shovels in the ground faster and supercharge our agenda to create pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all Marylanders. These first six pilot projects reaffirm our commitment to spurring economic growth. And they are only the beginning.”
The Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects were chosen for their alignment with priority infrastructure and place-based plans, varying in scale, type and development stage. This selection follows Moore’s broader push for permitting reform, part of an economic agenda that has created nearly 100,000 jobs and attracted over $4 billion in private investments since his administration began in 2023. The council, housed under the Maryland Department of Planning, will coordinate interagency reviews to enhance transparency and efficiency, meeting monthly through the pilot phase. Agendas and materials are posted on the department’s website.
Among the Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects is the Bainbridge Logistics Center in Cecil County, a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center site in Port Deposit. Spanning 440 acres along Interstate 95, the project by MRP Industrial plans four to five Class A industrial buildings totaling over 3.7 million square feet for distribution and logistics. Construction began in 2022 after site preparation, with the first building expected to deliver in late 2025. It is projected to create up to 2,500 jobs in warehousing and advanced manufacturing, reactivating a site dormant since the Navy’s closure in 1976. “The selection of Bainbridge Logistics Center as a pilot project for the Maryland Coordinated Permitting Review Council sends a powerful message: the Moore administration is committed to accelerating economic growth, attracting private investment, and creating high-quality jobs in Maryland,” said MRP Industrial Senior Vice President Kate Nolan Bryden. “By streamlining agency coordination, we are making it easier for sophisticated logistics users to build, innovate, and hire—bringing 21st-century careers to Cecil County. Bainbridge is being reactivated as an economic engine, and after nearly 50 years, is once again poised to transform Port Deposit into a hub of opportunity and prosperity.” According to a 2022 state business development report, the center could generate $153 million in annual sales tax revenues during construction.
Another Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot project, Bella Vita Farm in Montgomery County, involves expanding agritourism and food production on a 103-acre preserved site in Brookeville. Owned by Amy and Angelo Falcone since 2017, the farm produces fresh produce, eggs and value-added goods, with recent additions like 500 layer hens in 2025 to meet demand. The expansion includes storage, processing equipment and events like farm dinners, supported by a 2024 county grant. It aligns with Maryland’s agricultural reserve goals, potentially boosting rural tourism. A 2023 master plan emphasized such farms’ role in local food systems.
The Loch Raven Overlook in Baltimore County, a Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot project, proposes a 122-unit residential development on a 3-acre site at 8712 Loch Raven Boulevard in Towson, replacing a former Days Inn motel. Announced in December 2024 by County Executive Johnny Olszewski, the project by Osprey Property Company and Pax Development will offer attainable housing, with 72 units affordable for households at 60% of area median income. Construction is slated for early 2026, including workforce training programs. A April 2025 public hearing approved the plan with noise limits.
Baltimore City’s Pimlico Redevelopment stands out among the Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects as a transformative mixed-use revitalization of the historic Pimlico Race Course. The $400 million state-funded effort, authorized in 2024, includes demolishing old structures starting July 2025 to build a new clubhouse, paddock, barns and year-round facilities. Owned by the Stronach Group, the site will host the Preakness Stakes while becoming a community hub in Park Heights. Demolition progress as of July 2025 includes site clearing, with full redevelopment expected by 2027.
Quantum Frederick in Frederick County, a Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot project, redevelops a 2,100-acre former aluminum plant into a data center campus. Now under TPG Real Estate after a 2024 dispute resolution with Quantum Loophole, the site features Aligned Data Centers planning three additional buildings approved in May 2025, with acoustic conditions. It includes a fiber optic loop and aims for carbon-neutral operations, limited to 1% of county land per a July 2025 bill. Projections estimate $37.7 million in local revenues.
The Salisbury (SBY) Market in Wicomico County rounds out the Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects, developing a ground-floor marketplace and residential apartments in Salisbury’s historic downtown between U.S. Route 50 and West Main Street. Part of a 2023 master plan for streetscape enhancements, it seeks to revitalize the area with mixed-use spaces. The project supports Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development goals, preserving jobs since 1968.
“The permitting council’s strongest assets will be its interagency coordination and the resulting transparency created through data sharing,” said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca L. Flora, AICP, LEED ND/BD+C. “Now that the diverse portfolio of pilot projects has been selected, interagency project teams are being formed to work with project owner teams. We are grateful to the project owners who have agreed to collaborate with us on deepening our understanding of their projects and permitting needs.”
These Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects build on Moore’s December 2024 executive order, which created the council to mirror federal models for faster reviews. A January 2025 commission report recommended efficiency upgrades, addressing vendor credentialing and licensing barriers. Maryland’s permitting reforms address longstanding complaints about delays hindering growth, with a 2024 Chamber of Commerce statement praising interagency collaboration.
For Southern Maryland readers, where economic development often involves balancing rural preservation with growth in counties like St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert, the Maryland Permitting Review Council pilot projects signal potential statewide benefits. Although none are located in the region, streamlined processes could accelerate local initiatives, such as infrastructure tied to Naval Air Station Patuxent River or agritourism expansions. Maryland’s overall job gains under Moore, including in tech and manufacturing, indirectly support Southern Maryland’s defense-heavy economy, where permitting for base-related projects has faced delays. A 2024 county report noted similar challenges in Charles County land use. The council’s work may inform future pilots, enhancing competitiveness as Maryland competes with neighbors like Virginia for investments.
