Second Round Listening Session: Talbot County Community Center - November 1, 2018

The comments below represent the statements or points of view of one or more individuals who participated in the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) “A Better Maryland” Development Plan Listening Sessions. These comments do not represent any official position or policy of MDP or any other State agency, nor do they represent any official position or policy of any local jurisdiction or local planning agency.

Environment

Selected Topic
Sustaining the Environment into the Future

Selected Strategy
Review and streamline the State’s Critical Areas guidance for local governments to more effectively meet the Program’s goals

Comments:

• • The Critical Areas regulations tries to apply the same standards on all areas (one-size fits all)
    • Critical areas, however, vary by county. The Critical Areas regulations should recognize these differences and allow implementation variations
    • Farmers should have greater involvement in the Critical Areas process, possibly having the meetings held locally so farmers can participate
    • There is a concern that farmers are losing valuable land due to increased setbacks

Selected Topic
Adapting and Becoming Resilient to Climate Change

Selected Strategies
Provide resources to assist jurisdictions with integration of adaptation planning and data

Establish ongoing climate adaptation forum to share case studies, best practices, and informational resources

Comments:

• • Need access to local data
  • Need help showing what the data means
  • Need to help local governments and elected officials understand the data means, in terms of potential consequences and the alternatives
  • Information is needed for better emergency planning (i.e., evacuation routes) in Talbot County because there are so many peninsulas where road access could be cut out due to flooding and storm surge (only one means of ingress/egress)
  • There is a real need to educate the public about the impacts of climate change

Economic Development

Selected Topic
Improving Economic Growth and Development in Existing Communities

Selected Strategy
Support and develop active and healthy agricultural businesses based on statewide regional needs and differences (e.g. buy local)

Comments

• • Having agricultural businesses that are economically strong will help reduce the loss of farmland and farming operations
  • Agriculture is the largest industry in the state, so we need to do what we can to support agriculture

Community Development

Selected Topic
Creating Workforce/Affordable Housing

Selected Strategy
Work with state agencies to develop creative ways to better connect workforce development and housing development

Comments

• • Large employers don’t have enough affordable housing options to attract and retain the needed work force
  • Talbot County has a lot of temporary/seasonal employment and lower paying retail jobs, which makes it difficult to provide housing that these workers can afford. Most of the housing in Talbot tends to be targeted to higher incomes
  • Local governments need help understanding what workforce/affordable housing strategies are available
    • Provide model zoning ordinances or “models & guidelines” of best practices for affordable housing in Maryland
  • There is a need for better and higher paying jobs, so that workers like teachers and police can live in the area
    • More workforce development may be needed to support the training of residents in the area to fill the higher paying jobs, such as in the medical profession

Selected Strategy
Develop inter-agency resources for identifying unique housing conditions, needs, and strategies for Maryland’s regions and analyzing the impact that state and local regulations and policies have on the cost of housing

Comments

• • There is not enough infrastructure in unincorporated Talbot County to accommodate much future housing needs
    • There should be greater collaboration with the municipalities to direct housing to the towns, possibly using an inter-jurisdictional transfer of development rights (TDR) program to help facilitate benefits for both the county and the municipalities.

Collaboration / Coordination

Selected Topic
Coordinating State Agencies in the Planning Process

Selected Strategies
Establish a program that improves the state’s understanding of demands on local governments

Work with local jurisdictions to develop criteria for Maryland Capital Grants program that would allow the evaluation of projects based on local plans and needs

Comments

• • The State needs help staffing its many programs, which would in turn provide more assistance to local governments
  • State agency administrators need to become familiar with the parts of the state they are regulating. Looking on an aerial image is not the same as visiting the community.
  • Regulations impact communities differently. So, State agencies need to understand how the uniqueness of a community may be affected as they administer their programs

Selected Topic
Respecting Regional Distinctions

Selected Strategy
Facilitate regional communication opportunities for jurisdictions to interact with each other and state agencies to address shared regional concerns

Comments

• • This is good idea; much of this is needed.
  • Broadband is an important resource that is needed on the Eastern Shore. It will help in promoting better jobs and educating students. Broadband also needs to be affordable.
  • Another local transportation concern is the lack of transit service for the rural areas of Talbot County.