Planning and Zoning
Additional PlanMaryland Forums Scheduled

PlanMaryland is a new initiative by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) to create a Statewide comprehensive plan.  The statutory authority to create such a plan has been in existence since the 1970s but MDP has never exercised it.  MDP is holding a series of forums to receive public feedback from across the State and it is critical that county governments make sure their voices are heard.  Eleven meetings have been scheduled and two more are planned.  Click here for…

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February 20, 2010
Planning and Zoning
PlanMaryland Forums Being Held in Central Maryland

As part of its development of a statewide development plan (PlanMaryland), the Maryland Department of Planning is hosting a series of thirteen public forums across the state.  The first four forums are scheduled for Central Maryland in Prince George's County on March 4, Carroll County and Baltimore County on March 9, Baltimore City on March 18, and Montgomery County on March 24. All meetings run from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  For further information, click here. UPDATE:  The Prince…

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February 10, 2010
Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Environmentalists Hold 16th Annual Legislative Summit

The Citizens' Campaign for the Environment (CCE) hosted their 16th Annual Environmental Legislative Summit on January 26 in Annapolis.  CCE is an umbrella organization for a number of environmental groups including 1000 Friends of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Sierra Club, and various waterkeeper organizations.  CCE used the Summit to hear from several legislator speakers and lay out its 2010 legislative agenda. Keynote speakers included Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senate President Mike Miller, Speaker of the House Mike Busch, and House Environmental Matters Committee Chair Maggie…

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January 31, 2010
Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
MACo Testifies On HB 1141 Implementation

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) joined with the Maryland Department of Planning and the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in updating the House Environmental Matters Committee on January 26 on the status of the implementation of the new House Bill 1141 comprehensive plan elements.  All three panels testified that implementation was going well and that State, county, and municipal land use planning had become more cooperative. HB 1141 of 2006 required counties and municipalities to add a new water…

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January 31, 2010
Bill Hearing / Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
MACo Testifies Against Building Permit Extension Mandate

Maryland Association of Counties Associate Director Les Knapp and Anne Arundel County Director of Planning and Zoning Larry Tom testified at a House Environmental Matters briefing on January 26 about whether to continue legislation requiring counties and municipalities to extend the expiration dates for building permits.  House Bill 921 and Senate Bill 958 of 2009 required building permits issued by the State or local governments to extend their tolling (or running) period.  The bill also had a retroactive clause that "brought back"…

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January 31, 2010
Environment / Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
Environmental Matters Committee Stormwater & Smart Growth Briefings

The House Environmental Matters Committee will be holding a series of briefings on January 26 on:  (1)  the Maryland Department of the Environment stormwater management regulations; (2) implementation of the water resource elements and municipal growth elements from HB 1141 of 2006,  (3) implementation of 2009 legislation requiring counties to extend the tolling period of building permits; and (4) an update on the "Smart, Green, and Growing" legislation from the 2009 session.  The briefings will  start at 10:30 AM…

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January 25, 2010
Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
MACo Testifies at Transit Oriented Development Briefing

Maryland Association of County (MACo) representatives testified before the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on transit oriented development (TOD) on January 21.  Representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also testified. TOD is a collaborative approach between the State and a county to focus high density mixed use development around public transit facilities.  MACo speakers included MACo Associate Director Les Knapp, Baltimore City Transportation Deputy Director…

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January 21, 2010
Environment / Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
Sustainable Communities Lobby Day in Annapolis

Members of the Governor's Smart Growth Subcabinet are holding an event to launch the State's Sustainable Communities Initiative of 2010.  The event is open to the public and will be held on January 27, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM in the Miller Senate Office building.  Invited Speakers include  the Secretaries of Planning, Transportation, Housing and Community Development, and Business and Economic Development as well as representatives from 1000 Friends of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  See the…

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January 19, 2010
Planning and Zoning / Uncategorized
Baltimore County Receives Distinguished National Planning Award

The American Planning Association recently awarded its 2010  Planning Landmark Award to Baltimore County for its Valleys Plan. The Planning Landmark Awards are presented by the American Planning Association's professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), for projects at least 25 years old that are historically significant, initiated a new direction in planning or impacted American planning, cities or regions over a broad range of time or space.

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January 17, 2010
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