A Message from Chris Ryer, Director

I would like to announce some staff changes to the Department of Planning to support the City’s new community development strategy as described by the Framework for Community Development, available here. The Framework for Community Development elevates neighborhood-focused strategies for the City, and to support these strategies we have added two Comprehensive Planners and moved our Green Network team from the Office of Sustainability to the Comprehensive Planning division.  We will have a total of eleven planning districts in the City staffed by seven full-time and four part-time Comprehensive Planners (four planners share their neighborhood planning work with other responsibilities in the Department). These changes will go into effect on July 1st, to view a map of the revised planning districts please click here. In addition, I'm pleased to announce that our staff has transitioned back to utilizing our baltimorecity.gov email accounts and things are largely back to operations as normal post-ransomware attack.  Finally, please note - after this issue, we will be starting to release the Compass at the beginning of each month - starting in July! Yours Truly, Chris Ryer, Director

Baltimore Planning Academy: Application Opens on June 24 for Fall 2019!

Mark your calendars! Planning Academy applications OPEN for Fall 2019 on June 24, 2019!  #BaltimorePlanningAcademy2019 #Bmoreplanstogether

Planning in the News!

Positive news about Baltimore, urban planning, and sustainability:

City launches greening campaign targeting 47 vacant lots along two main corridors (Fishbowl)

Reverse Baltimore's population slide: Green more city neighborhoods (Baltimore Sun)

Can’t compost? Take your food waste to the Sunday farmers’ market (Baltimore Brew)

Funding Opportunities.

Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge Grant due by November 2019, rolling application process.

The Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge is a grant program for student-led sustainability projects in Baltimore City Public Schools. Students must be a part of an organized green team that meets to complete their project. Teams just starting to develop sustainability initiatives can apply for up to $1,000.

Upcoming Commission Meetings & Events.

6/20 & 7/11 - 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.

6/27 - 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.

7/9 - 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.

7/17 - Sustainability Commission

Please join commissioners and staff for our monthly Commission on Sustainability meeting. Meetings are open to the public. We welcome all who are interested to attend!

The Commission on Sustainability is made up of volunteer members representing environmental groups, community organizations, labor unions, public health and environmental justice interests, and private industry.

Information is available on the Sustainability calendar.