An April 27 SoMdNews.com article reports on a forum where State and Calvert and Saint Mary’s County planning officials discussed the implementation of PlanMaryland.  The event  featured Maryland Department of  Planning Services Director Richard Josephson, Calvert County Director of planning and Zoning Chuck Johnston, and Saint Mary’s County Director of Land Use and Growth Management Phillip Shire.  Many counties have been … Continue reading Southern Maryland Forum Discusses PlanMaryland Concerns

MACo and the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) reached an agreement on amendments to MACo’s bill (HB 1201 / SB 532) that would codify the scope of the State Development Plan (ie PlanMaryland).  MACo presented the amendments as part of its testimony before the House Environmental Matters Committee on March 8. As amended, the bills states that the Plan … Continue reading MACo and MDP Agree on Amendments to PlanMaryland Bill

A January 13 Cecil Whig article summarizes portions of a presentation earlier that day by Maryland Secretary of Planning Richard Hall about PlanMaryland to the Eastern Shore delegation.  Friday, legislators said PlanMaryland should have been brought before the General Assembly instead of going straight to the governor. One of the biggest concerns was over a person’s ability to develop … Continue reading Eastern Shore Delegation Considers PlanMaryland

As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Martin O’Malley has accepted the final version of PlanMaryland via Executive Order.  The final version of the Plan is 116 pages cover to cover.  MACo has prepared a 3-page summary of the Plan that provides an overview of each section of the Plan, including language and quotes that MACo believes are especially relevant to county officials.  Extra … Continue reading MACo Prepares Summary of Final Version of PlanMaryland

In a December 25 letter to the Baltimore Sun, Saint Mary’s County Commissioner Cindy Jones criticizes both the science behind PlanMaryland and the process used to vet the Plan with Maryland’s citizens.  Here is an excerpt: The science supporting PlanMaryland employs tactics such as changing the parameters on a chart to produce a favorable result, omitting pertinent … Continue reading St. Mary’s Commissioner Criticizes PlanMaryland

Debate over PlanMaryland has continued after Governor Martin O’Malley’s acceptance of the Plan on December 19 and there will likely be legislation introduced during the 2012 Session to limit the Plan or add General Assembly oversight.  The Plan adopted by the Governor through Executive Order is essentially a framework and many details have to be filled in before … Continue reading Debate Continues Over PlanMaryland

According to a state house press release this morning, Governor O’Malley has received and accepted the Maryland Department of Planning’s latest version of PlanMaryland. From the Governor’s press release: ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 19, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley today accepted “PlanMaryland,” the State’s first long-range plan for sustainable growth, from Secretary Richard Eberhart Hall of … Continue reading Governor O’Malley Accepts PlanMaryland