The first thing that comes to mind is to ask what was growing there before it was ripped out.

If you want something that is reasonably quick, provides food and shelter for birds and is an evergreen screen, eastern redcedar comes to mind. Not to be confused with western whitecedar (aka green giant).

American holly is probably native to your locale. You could check on that. Another evergreen screen. The hybrids (foster, nelly r stevens) are typically a lot easier to get a hold of and have a more reliable form and deeper color but they are technically not native.

Is southern magnolia native to where you are? That's another one.

Tell us more about your location and conditions, soil and moisture level and is there a limit to what the developer is going to spend on this? How big the area>

Your state should have a soil conservation agency/department/office that has windbreak information probably already in digestable formats, often broken down by county, in association with your County Extension Service. I wouldn't do arborvitae or Leylands.

Dan

Thanks, gardeningrandma, for your response. I have suggested Eastern Red Cedar, and Eastern White Pine -- I would love the Holly and magnolia as well.
Dan, I'm glad to get your specific input about not doing the arborvitae or Leylands. I'll try to find the windbreak info you write about.
The soil is clay, the site is facing east, southeast; there's a mix of moisture levels, although there is some marsh land around. The area where the trees would be planted is about 75 feet wide -- a narrow strip behind what we already have.
thanks again!
Joan

I would also suggest Wax Myrtle - Morella cerifera.

Foster holly and 'Savannah' are both native hybrids (both parents are natives and cross naturally). Nellie R Stevens is not (it is a cross between chinese and european hollies).

If you have room, a few of the faster growing oaks: Scarlet oak, northern red oak, Shumard oak; pin oak (Quercus palustris) holds its brown leaves in the winter around here, providing some privacy.

A good link below shows you some of the more important native plants for attracting native insects (which in turn attract native birds to eat them).

Here is a link that might be useful: Plants for supporting biodiversity

You could also create a dense screen from ironwoods. If found them to grow quickly in certain situations. Are you in eastern or western md? How much sunlight?

Southern magnolias and American hollies are your best broad-leafed evergreens that are 'natives', and there are cultivars of each with unique characteristics.

Also, consider 'Chindo' viburnum, Longstalk holly, Carolina cherrylaurel. These are all evergreen.