One year ago, at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference, Governor Hogan signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Planning to work together with local governments, state agencies, Maryland residents and other stakeholders on a 21st century plan moving Maryland forward – growing responsibly and protecting our resources.

We conducted a series of three listening sessions in every county and Baltimore City: one with Planning and Economic Development staff, one with elected officials, and an open public session. In many instances, we used the time between the sessions to have our regional planners conduct tours of projects and areas that are of particular importance to the local governments.. Full Article...

Being a Planning Commissioner or a member of a Board of Zoning Appeals is a tough job. Individuals dedicated to their communities, with full time jobs, are thrust into positions in which they make very important and difficult decisions guiding the future of growth, economic development, land preservation, and transportation in Maryland. Where is one to go to seek training and guidance on addressing these decisions? A great place to start is the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association's 2018 annual conference in Gaithersburg on October 25 and 26. The theme for this year is Citizen and Professional Planners: A Vital Partnership. Full Article...

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the launch of its Statewide Traffic Safety Pledge, which encourages drivers, riders and passengers to take a stand and commit to safer roadway habits in an effort to drastically reduce and/or eliminate roadway fatalities. The pledge began as an internal initiative at MDOT to get employees to set the example, and is now available for all Marylanders. Full Article...

William “Louie” Kiskowski is a newish Planner IV in the Data and Projections unit. His main duty is to analyze data releases and develop reports for the department and outside agencies to rely on. Learn more about Louie...

In each newsletter, we highlight the most relevant and timely upcoming events. Our website does include many additional events, so please visit it regularly for updates. Listings are searchable by subject.