Dept of Planning Announces 2022 Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards

The Maryland Department of Planning recently released the recipients of the 2022 Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards. 

Last week the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) presented Maryland Sustainable Growth awards for leadership and community planning at its 10th annual awards ceremony. The awards recognize individuals, organizations, and programs that exemplify well-planned economic and community development initiatives throughout the state.

The eight winners and six honorable mention awards are for individuals and organizations that demonstrate their commitment to sustainable growth – development or redevelopment that is compact, walkable, and takes advantage of existing infrastructure while preserving the rural landscape in Maryland.

According to Planning:

“Sustainable growth is key to the future of Maryland. Our administration takes great pride in these awards and celebrates the perseverance of the recipients to change Maryland for the better,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “These awards recognize people and projects from across the state that bring creativity, innovation, and resourcefulness to our communities.”

“I congratulate the award recipients for their steadfast commitment to revitalizing and improving the communities of Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Robert McCord. “These individuals and programs demonstrate the best approaches to sustainability while considering the needs and uses of both the built and natural environments.”

The 2022 Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards winners:

  • Leadership
    • Del. Jim Gilchrist
    • Kathy Christian
  • Sustainable Communities
    • Kent Attainable Housing, Inc.
    • City of Gaithersburg Lakeforest Mall Master Plan
    • Towson University – Greenberg Gibbons Armory Renovation
    • WalkHoward: Moving Forward

  • Preservation/Conservation
    • Lake Churchill Stream Restoration – Charles P. Johnson & Assoc., Inc
    • Wild Kid Acres

Don’t miss The Power of Planning – Shaping Your Community panel at the MACo Winter Conference! 

Almost universally, planning and zoning policy is one of the core functions of local government. Very few policy tools shape the look and feel of our communities in the same way. How counties choose to exercise this tool can also be incredibly controversial. From long–term planning to ensuring adequate infrastructure…in deciding what goes where, planning and zoning policy touches every corner of a community. This panel covers the fundamentals of planning and zoning policy, giving policy makers a crash course on one of their most effective tools.  

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Hit the Ground Running,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD from January 4-6, 2023 (with a pre-conference orientation for new county officials on January 3). 

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: 

Check out the award videos. 

Check out the full list of winners and honorable mentions.