Second Round Listening Session: Conference - October 26, 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
Delegate state authority to administer programs to jurisdictions that have stricter local regulations

Comments:

• • Delegating authority
    • Rewards jurisdictions for desired environmental stewardship, thus encouraging more
    • This prevents the “runaround”
  • Many of the Maryland environmental issues relate to the Chesapeake Bay. Agriculture needs a seat at the table
  • “Preparing interagency tools to evaluate effectiveness of environmental programs“- strategy cuts across all other options and environmental strategies

Economic Development

Selected Topic
Meeting Renewable Energy Goals

Selected Strategy
Develop tools and technical assistance for localized energy planning and implementation

Comments

• • “Developing tools” is more of an action item, which we need. It is time to move on and do something to promote renewable energy production
  • There are a lot of state facilities, which could implement renewable energy initiatives quickly
  • Interagency partnerships for providing local technical assistance is a great early strategy for enhancing renewable energy production
  • We need to tie economic development and environmental preservation together at all levels
    • They need to be budgeting and financing priorities

Community Development

Selected Topic
Creating Workforce/Affordable Housing

Selected Strategy
Explore innovative housing partnerships and financing mechanisms to increase the stock of affordable and workforce housing

Comments

• • Inter-agency resources for identifying housing needs and analyzing regulatory impacts is the most readily implementable strategy proposed here
  • Cities like Gaithersburg are running out of opportunities to create new affordable housing units. What do we do when built out?
  • Explore the opportunity for local community land trust applications
  • More support to developers that are focused and active in the affordable housing industry
  • Tax credits all seem to go to Baltimore, while the rest of the state still needs some
  • Jurisdictions need help with redevelopment and infill that can help increase affordable housing stock
  • Reduce regulation hindering affordable housing development
  • State should identify affordable housing stock statewide
  • Frederick County has some successful programs that the State should explore

Collaboration / Coordination

Selected Topic
Respecting Regional Distinctions

Selected Strategy
Evaluate state program criteria to reflect regional differences

Comments

• • Which state programs/criteria need evaluation?
  • Perception is an issue regionally
    • For example, perception of water quality issues in Frederick County
  • Watersheds are also impacted by activities in other states (PA, NY) as well as those closer to home