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.”
