In development analysis, costs include impacts that require public or private expenditure—for example, the increased demand on infrastructure (roads, utilities, schools, water/sewer), which necessitates capacity expansions, impact fees, or mitigation measures.

Crime rates and lower unemployment are socio-economic conditions/impacts, not direct development costs.

Local density zoning rules are regulatory constraints (land-use controls), not a cost in themselves (although they can influence costs).

References (Maryland Pre-Licensing Core Content):

Maryland 60-Hour Course: “Land Use Controls and Property Development” (infrastructure capacity, impact fees, concurrency, mitigation of development impacts).

Planning and subdivision concepts taught in Maryland curriculum (infrastructure and service demands as development costs).