MDP Announces Reinvest Maryland Rollout at Sustainable Growth Commission Meeting

Maryland Secretary of Planning David Craig announced at the July  27, 2015, meeting of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission that the Department of Planning (MDP) plans to create a “one stop shop” on MDP’s website for Reinvest Maryland initiatives. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Reinvest Maryland is a policy created by the Commission to encourage infill, redevelopment, and revitalization within Priority Funding Areas (PFAs) and discourage new development outside of the PFAs.

Secretary Craig stressed MDP’s commitment to provide regional technical teams to help both counties and municipalities.  He also said MDP may introduce legislation to allow distressed municipalities to apply separately from their counties for financial assistance under the One Maryland program.

Commission Chair Jon Laria announced that the Commission may unveil its Sustainable Growth and Conservation Indicators (i.e., Smart Growth measures and benchmarks) prior to the MACo Summer Conference.

The Commission also heard briefings from its Neighborhood Stabilization Homeownership and Rural Economies Workgroups and received an update on the recent Montgomery County Circuit Court case that could have broad implications for local governments that have adopted a stormwater fee.

Carroll County Commission President Douglas Howard and Sykesville Mayor Ian Shaw welcomed the Commission to Carroll County and discussed the Warfield Complex Redevelopment Project.  Carroll County Commissioner Richard Rothschild made comments about the challenges posed by: (1) the septic tiers and best available nitrogen removal technology (BAT) septic system requirements; (2) historic preservation requirements; and (3) sustainable housing policies.

For further information about the Commission meeting, please contact Les Knapp at lknapp@mdcounties.org or 410.269.0043.

Members of the Commission will be providing an update on its activities at the 2015 MACo Summer Conference.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

For a schedule of educational sessions at MACo’s Summer Conference, please view the Registration Brochure.

Questions? Contact Meetings & Events Director Virginia White.