Maryland officials will listen to residents’ concerns about the future of the state’s development plan at an evening event to be held at the Planning Department
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is hosting a public event, A Better Maryland: Community Listening Session Agenda, on Monday, January 8, 2018 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Department’s headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD).
The purpose of the session is for state officials to hear from county residents about how best to update Maryland’s overall development plan, called A Better Maryland, that is being created by the Maryland Department of Planning. This plan will establish update Maryland’s goals and objectives for growing responsibly, protecting our resources, supporting existing communities and creating quality places.
Maryland’s Special Secretary of Smart Growth Wendi Peters and Acting Planning Secretary Robert McCord will be in attendance as well as Maryland Department of Planning staff who will introduce the goals, tasks and schedule of the state development plan. The listening session on January 8 is one of several such events planned in counties and communities throughout Maryland.
The Montgomery County Planning Department oversees zoning and land use policy in Montgomery County, including the creation of master plans and Planning Board approval of development applications. Montgomery Planning Department staff work in coordination with Maryland Department of Planning staff to meet state goals for growth and development.
Community Listening Session Agenda
- 7 p.m. – Meeting attendees will complete a brief mapping exercise before the session begins.
- 7:30 p.m. – Welcome and introductions
- 7:40 p.m. – Introduction of State Development Plan by Maryland Department of Planning
- 8:10 p.m. – Listening Session Discussion – for questions, go to the Planning Department website.
- 9 p.m. – Conclusion and next steps
- 9:30 p.m. – Adjourn.
The public session will follow afternoon meetings on January 8 with state and county officials, and Planning Department staff about the Maryland plan.
About A Better Maryland
In August 2017, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed Executive Order 01.01.2017.18, which directs the Maryland Planning Department to prepare a revised state development plan in coordination with local governments and other stakeholders. The new plan, A Better Maryland, will replace the five-year-old PlanMaryland to address current economic, physical and social conditions and trends in the state.
The Executive Order establishes that the planning strategies be organized to serve the following four goals: enrich the lives of Marylanders; use smart growth principles; grow responsibly; and protect Maryland’s resources. The Order also establishes the objectives for growing responsibly and protecting Maryland’s resources: support existing communities; create quality places; coordinate state investment; preserve natural resources; and cultural, historical and heritage resources.
Additional goals and objectives may be formulated as a result of feedback gathered during the outreach and plan development process from residents, local governments, state agencies and others. The new plan is to be prepared by July 1, 2019.