May 17, 2010
Tune in Tuesday morning on WYPR FM 88.1 in Baltimore to hear a discussion “What’s the Plan, Maryland?” — focusing on the Maryland Department of Planning’s efforts to develop a new statewide plan. While stakeholder forums have been going on across the state, host Sheilah Kast will speak with MDP Secretary Rich Hall and MACo Associate Director Les Knapp on Plan Maryland, its implementation and goals.
The broadcast is scheduled for 9:00am on Tuesday, May 18, as part of the regular weekday program, Maryland Morning.
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Posted by Michael Sanderson
May 14, 2010
MACo Associate Director Les Knapp attended the Mid-Shore PlanMaryland Forum that was held at Chesapeake College on May 12. As previously reported, the Maryland Department of Planning is holding a series of public forums across the State as part of its process to create a State land use plan. The forums consist of a “meet and greet” session, a demographics poll conducted with remote keypad devices, and a series of roundtable discussions where participants identify the three most important State planning visions and discuss what is and what is not working under the current planning system. Participants are also encouraged to identify possible solutions to planning challenges. Results are tabulated and shared with the audience.
The Mid-Shore discussion encompassed a wide range of viewpoints and ideas. Several county and municipal planners and planning commissioners were in attendance. Delegate Dick Sossi also partcipated.
As of now, five more forums are scheduled for the Upper Shore and Central and Western Maryland. Information on the forums can be found here.
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Posted by Les Knapp
April 28, 2010
The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is continuing the process of adopting a Statewide landuse plan, dubbed “PlanMaryland.” MDP has sought public feedback on PlanMaryland through a series of public forums. The remaining scheduled forums include: May 6 at Salisbury University, May 12 at Chesapeake College, May 19 at Frostburg State University, May 26 at Cecil College, June 3 at Bowie State University, June 9 at Hood College, and June 16 at Washington College. Click here for more forum information. MACo urges both local elected officials and planners to attend these forums and offer their views and opinions.
An April 23 Gazette article chronicles the ongoing process, including some concerns raised by county planners:
The [PlanMaryland] objective is to direct growth to areas that already have roads, schools and other infrastructure to support it, said Rich Josephson, director of planning services for the Maryland Department of Planning. Those “priority funding areas” include Baltimore city and inside the Baltimore and Washington beltways. …
As part of the process, state officials are staging 13 public forums statewide to gather public input on priorities for growth. One such forum took place Wednesday at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold. Forums also have taken place in Rockville and La Plata. …
However, officials in Dorchester and Queen Anne’s County said this month they knew little about the state’s effort.
Helen Spinelli, planning director of Queen Anne’s County, said the first document she received regarding PlanMaryland was a brochure on March 31.
Spinelli said she’d like a state plan to reflect efforts taking place in jurisdictions statewide and also to coordinate state and county planning — a primary goal of PlanMaryland.
In Garrett County, officials hope PlanMaryland takes smaller, rural districts into consideration as well, said John Nelson, the county’s director of planning and land development.
“Plans shouldn’t try to compile policies that will address the rapidly growing areas of the urban corridor without recognizing and acknowledging the difference of the rural areas and the rates of growth in the rural areas,” said Nelson, who plans to attend a PlanMaryland meeting next month in Frostburg. …
Prince George’s County Planning Director Fern Piret said traditionally planning has been the responsibility of local jurisdictions, not the state.
“So, we’re wary of the state taking a larger role that would conflict with what we do on a local level,” she said. “But I don’t think what the state’s doing is doing that.”
PlanMaryland Website
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Posted by Les Knapp
February 20, 2010
PlanMaryland is a new initiative by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) to create a Statewide comprehensive plan. The statutory authority to create such a plan has been in existence since the 1970s but MDP has never exercised it. MDP is holding a series of forums to receive public feedback from across the State and it is critical that county governments make sure their voices are heard. Eleven meetings have been scheduled and two more are planned. Click here for a an updated schedule.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact the Maryland Department of Planning
(410) 767-4500
(877) 767-6272, toll-free
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Posted by Les Knapp
February 10, 2010
As part of its development of a statewide development plan (PlanMaryland), the Maryland Department of Planning is hosting a series of thirteen public forums across the state. The first four forums are scheduled for Central Maryland in Prince George’s County on March 4, Carroll County and Baltimore County on March 9, Baltimore City on March 18, and Montgomery County on March 24.
All meetings run from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. For further information, click here.
UPDATE: The Prince George’s County Meeting was originally announced for March 3. The actual date is March 4. For revised information on the Prince George’s County Meeting, click here.
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Posted by Les Knapp
December 19, 2009
The Cumberland News-Times reports that “[t]he civil court case filed by Allegany County government and a private developer against two state agencies over a planned major subdivision near Green Ridge State Forest is headed to trial.”
Excerpt from local coverage:
The property at issue is a 935-acre parcel in eastern Allegany County where Terrapin Run LLC, an affiliate of Columbia-based PDC Inc., planned to build up to 360 housing units within 10 years and up to about 900 units in 20 years. The two parties are seeking $16 million in damages. The full build-out calls for about 4,300 units.
The arguments center around MDE’s refusal to approve portions of the county’s water and sewer plan amendment, which noted a new discharge to a “high quality Tier II watershed … from a proposed sewage treatment facility to be located in the Terrapin Run watershed.”
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Posted by Michael Sanderson
December 9, 2009
The most recent offering in a series of surveys from the Mryland Department of Planning asks for stakeholder input on the notion of a State Growth Plan. Excerpt, and a link to participate in the online survey, are below:
“What Does a State Growth Plan Mean to You?”
Share your opinions on 10 broad challenges concerning the future of growth and development in Maryland.
Please assist MDP by taking a few moments to complete the “What Does a State Growth Plan Mean to You?” survey. Following are 10 reasons the State needs PlanMaryland, a state growth plan. You are given an opportunity to weigh in on each of these.
Click to go to Survey
Thank you in advance for participating in this important poll.
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Posted by Michael Sanderson
December 8, 2009
Extract from a recent communication to MACo (and other stakeholders) from the Task Force on the Future for Growth & Development in Maryland:
NEW DATE — Maryland Stormwater Management Forum – January 15, 2010
In deference to the Choose Clean Water Conference to be held in Washington, DC on January 10-12, and the conflict it presents for certain individuals and groups wanting to participate in our Task Force forum on Maryland stormwater management, we have elected to move our stormwater management forum to the afternoon of Friday, January, 15, 2010, in Baltimore. Further details about time and location may be obtained from MDP when registering. We apologize for any inconvenience.
- – - – -
On January 15, 2010, the Task Force on the Future for Growth & Development in Maryland will hold a forum on the topic of potential impacts of the implementation of Maryland’s Stormwater Management Act of 2007.
The Task Force especially wants to hear from interested and informed parties about the potential Smart Growth implications of the program. The Maryland Departments of the Environment and Planning are also interested in obtaining recommendations for developing a methodology by which they could monitor whether the program is having unintended consequences on redevelopment.
Speakers, who must preregister for planning purposes, are invited to provide specific examples of how the program may promote or inhibit Smart Growth, as well as ideas for a methodology for monitoring the potential effects of the program on redevelopment. Examples that include cost analyses are encouraged.
MACo is assembling a panel of county officials for this forum. County officials interested in participating or attending should contact Les Knapp at MACo to help coordinate.
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Posted by Michael Sanderson
November 30, 2009
From the SMART GROWTH MARYLAND blog’s title text:
SMART GROWTH MARYLAND is a blog written by members of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP). We intend it to become a great forum for the exchange of ideas and news about Smart Growth, sustainable planning, livable communities, historic and land preservation and the like.
We at MACo will add the SGM blog to our blogroll, with a permanent link on the right margin of this page.
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Posted by Michael Sanderson
