On August 9, MACo and the Maryland Association of County Planning Officials sent a jointly signed letter to Maryland Secretary of Planning Rich Hall concerning the implementation of PlanMaryland.  While the letter notes that MACo and the county planners have cautiously supported PlanMaryland, it also raises three concerns that should be addressed prior to PlanMaryland’s final draft.  The three concerns include:

(1) PlanMaryland should be designed to provide a macro-level view of growth in the State and should seek to foster better communication and cooperation at both the State and local levels, including helping to resolve conflicting policies between State agencies;

(2) PlanMaryland should incorporate local comprehensive plans as part of its foundation, recognizing the information and planning expertise that has been invested in the local plans; and

(3) PlanMaryland should not seek to supplant local land use authority or micromanage growth.

Frederick County Commission President Jan Gardner presented the letter’s concerns at the August 20 PlanMaryland session at the MACo summer conference.  Secretary Hall and a homebuilder representative also participated on the panel.