A Message from the Director

We are excited to announce that the application period for our Department's Planning Academy is now open! We are seeking up to 30 Baltimore City residents with a curiosity about the planning and development process, and a desire to effect positive change in their communities, to participate. The Planning Academy will provide residents with the tools they need to be better advocates for their communities around the issues of urban planning, development and zoning.  The Planning Academy grew out of our Equity Committee's Action Plan. The Committee identified establishing a Planning Academy as a recommended action to further our Agency's equity goals. One key goal for the Committee is to improve and increase the dialogue and connections between the Department of Planning and underserved communities in Baltimore.The Planning Academy aims to do just that - build opportunities for more community residents to influence our processes and shape the growth of our City. Read on below to learn how you can join the Planning Academy in its' first year, and apply by July 27!

Thomas J. Stosur, Director

Apply for Baltimore's Inaugural Planning Academy.

Baltimore's Department of Planning is a launching a Planning Academy in September and we want you to apply! This is a FREE six-week class designed to introduce participants to planning and development process in Baltimore. Our goal is to build community leadership around urban planning, policy and development. The application is now open and we invite Baltimore residents to apply by July 27!

Who should apply?

YOU! Baltimore City residents who want to increase their understanding of urban planning in order to improve their communities.

We are seeking engaged community members of all ages to join our inaugural cohort. You do not need a background in urban planning or development to participate - just enthusiasm, curiosity and interest!

We especially encourage participants from communities that have historically faced disinvestment to apply. Only Baltimore City residents are eligible to participate.

What will the course series cover? Who will facilitate the workshops?

The Planning Academy will provide an overview of Planning's role as an Agency, zoning, the development process, and a selection of specialized electives that cover a range of specific topics - from transportation to food policy. The classes will be facilitated by Planners, with a number of special guests from our partner agencies and other non-profit or for-profit development entities in the City. Each class will include both lecture, an opportunity for discussion, and an interactive component.

Each participant will work to refine a community or neighborhood based project throughout the six sessions and will remain in touch with facilitators to work towards making their project a reality in the months after the workshop series concludes.

What is the commitment?

Participants must commit to attending at least five out of the six workshops. Workshops will be hosted at the Department of Planning on Wednesday evenings between September 12 and October 17. Each evening workshop will be 2.5 hours - dinner will be provided!

Have more questions? Want to apply?

Please reach out to us at planningacademy@baltimorecity.gov with questions. To apply, please visit www.baltimoreplanningacademy.com

Artists! Apply Today for Lots Alive 2018-2019

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and the Baltimore Office of Sustainability’s Baltimore Green Network welcome proposals for sculptures and installations to be installed as part of the 2018-2019 season of the Lots Alive outdoor sculpture program.  Winning proposals will be eligible for grants up to $5,000.

Lots Alive supports the creation of temporary outdoor sculpture sited on vacant lots within the Baltimore City limits. For this grant cycle, seven vacant lot sites have been identified for artist activation in the Park Heights neighborhood (on Park Heights Ave). Each project is expected to be installed for 12 months. 

This application is open to artists, designers, architects, and community residents over 18 years of age and living in Baltimore City. Click here to learn more and apply. The deadline for submissions is July 28, 2018. 

Protecting Your Family in the Event of Flooding

This image to the left is of the flooding on Frederick Avenue in Southwest Baltimore on May 27th. That day, Special Rescue Operations personnel rescued twenty-one people by boat in Southwest Baltimore around Frederick Avenue (see image to left). One hundred row homes and apartments were damaged. The flood risk in Baltimore City is real. Communities near the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls, and Herring Run are especially at risk. The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane season began June 1st  and ends November 30th.

Here is what you can do to prepare for riverine and coastal flooding:

• Know Your Flood Risk: Go to the State of Maryland’s Flood Risk Application to learn more.
• Know Your Hurricane Evacuation Zone: Go to the State of Maryland’s Emergency Management website to learn more.
• Be prepared by downloading the FEMA mobile app 
• Make a Plan: Go to Ready.gov 
• Protect Your Property: Use flood protection measures like raising electrical components, installing back flow preventers, using non-paper faced drywall, and anchoring fuel tanks. 
• Insure your property: Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn how to purchase flood insurance. 

What is the City doing to help you? We have a Class 5 floodplain management program, the highest rated in the State. It qualifies property owners for a 25% discount on flood insurance premiums. Our team can assist you with mapping resources to know your risk, general insurance questions, and flood protection for your property.  Visit our website, or call 410-396-4866 to learn more.

Food Policy Director Presents at Atlantic Forum

On June 13, Food Policy Director Holly Freishtat participated in a panel conversation about the intersection of health and nutrition moderated by Atlantic health staff writer Olga Khazan and alongside fellow panelist Chris Bradshaw, Founder and Executive Director of Dreaming Out Loud.

The discussion explored why nutrition plays such a central role in health, and sought to understand the central challenges to achieving better health outcomes in disadvantaged communities and communities of color. 

More details of the event, which was live-streamed, may be viewed on this this event page.

State of Urban Manufacturing Study Release on June 21

Made In Baltimore and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance have been working diligently over the past several weeks to complete a final draft of the State of Urban Manufacturing: Baltimore study.   This report is scheduled to be released at Union Collective on June 21, from 3-6pm.  The event will include a presentation of findings, break out discussions along issue topics, tours of the new Union Collective building, and a networking happy hour for Made in Baltimore business owners and service providers of all stripes

Please register via Eventbrite, and forward this invitation to anyone you think would be interested!

Arlington INSPIRE Draft Plan Nears Completion

From March 2016 to June 2018, the Department of Planning staff worked with members of the school and neighborhood communities to better understand their neighborhood experiences, concerns, and needs. Through various community engagement processes – including community, student and parent workshops, community organization meetings, surveys, developer tours, multiple walking tours, as well as specific workshops targeted at the food environment and the Arlington INSPIRE Community Garden project – stakeholders have helped inform the draft plan.

A draft of the Arlington Elementary School INSPIRE plan has been completed and is accepting comments through July 6, 2018.  To view a copy of the plan and provide comments as well as to view a concept of the Arlington INSPIRE Community Garden now being built please visit: https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/inspire-plans/arlington-elementary-school

Now Hiring: GIS Analyst

We are seeking a contractual GIS Analyst to join our team. This is a 30-hour per week position, for a 10 month time period. More information is available here.

Upcoming Events

6/20 - Sustainability Commission

The June Commission on Sustainability meeting will be held at the Curtis Bay Recreation Center from 4:00-6:30 PM. The meeting will include discussion with community members about issues and inspiring projects occurring in Curtis Bay – which directly intersect with many of our strategies and actions in the Sustainability Plan update.

More information available via the Office of Sustainability webpage.

6/21 - Planning Commission

The Planning Commission meets regularly each month. All meetings are held in the Phoebe B. Stanton Boardroom of the Department of Planning, located on the 8th floor of 417 East Fayette Street and are open to the public. Live streaming is available.

The agenda and staff reports are available on this website.

6/22 - DP3 Advisory Committee

As part of the community engagement process for the update of the City’s Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (DP3), the Office of Sustainability and the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management are convening the first meeting of the 2018 DP3 Advisory Committee.  The meeting will be Friday, June 22, 11:00-12:00, and will be livestreamed.

7/10 - Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP)

The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) oversees 33 local historic districts, over 200 landmarks, and manages a local historic preservation tax credit program.  CHAP helps preserve and revitalize neighborhoods, celebrates City history, and promotes historic preservation as a proven economic driver for Baltimore City. 

For more information on the upcoming meeting agenda, visit this site.

7/26 - UDAAP

The Urban Design and Architecture Advisory Panel’s role is to provide the Planning Commission and the Department of Planning design review expertise in the areas of urban design, architecture, and landscape design for all proposed master planning efforts and significant development projects with the goal of achieving high quality designs for the planned and built environment of Baltimore City. More information found here.

8/1 - Food PAC

Established in 2010, Food PAC members work actively to improve food access and the food system. Facilitated by the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative, Food PAC provides opportunities for collaboration and idea sharing around food-related organizations in Baltimore. 

More information provided here.