Most people living in the Mid-Atlantic region know the Chesapeake Bay as the source of Maryland Blue crabs, oysters and countless opportunities for recreation. However, most people are probably not aware that with a watershed covering more than 64,000 square miles, fed by more than 150 rivers and streams and spanning parts of six states and Washington D.C., the Bay is the largest estuary in North America and one of the most productive bodies of water in the world.

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Back in November of 2018, Planning wrote a newsletter article about the department’s work on the WalkWicomcio project. Tracey Gordy, one of the department’s Regional Planners for the Lower Eastern Shore, spearheaded the department’s role in that effort, and her dedication has been noticed! As part of Wicomico County’s recognition of National Public Health Week (April 1-7), the County Health Department awarded Tracey the 2019 Outstanding Public Health Leader Award.

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Planning is a proud contributor to the Smart Growth Network (Network). The Network is a partnership of government, business, and civic organizations that support sustainable growth and efficient public investment. The Environmental Protection Agency is one of the founding partners of the Network and funded the Maryland Department of Planning’s work to develop the Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse.

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I bike to the office most work days; cold, hot, and in between. I live in Baltimore. It is about a 20 minute ride down the Maryland Avenue Cycle Track and through some side streets to Planning’s State Center headquarters on Preston Street. I can confirm without hesitation that the days I ride into work are more productive, and that my trips home far more enjoyable than the stop and go of rush hour traffic.

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Planning has completed a draft of the new state development plan, A Better Maryland. The department would like to thank everyone who provided input, as it helped shape and formulate the draft plan. Our outreach process began in fall 2017 with meetings in all 23 counties and Baltimore City. Each day-long visit included meetings with elected officials, staff and a general public meeting.

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Regional Workshop a Hit!

The Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) conducted its first Regional Workshop at the University of Maryland, Hagerstown on March 29th. Close to 40 citizen and professional planners participated in an event designed to bring key sessions from the annual conference out to planners in Western Maryland.

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Deputy Secretary Sandy Schrader joined the Maryland Department of Planning in January 2019. Sandy and her husband, Dennis, are both originally from Buffalo, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Medaille College and a master’s degree from The State University College at Buffalo.  After accompanying Dennis on multiple tours of duty with the U.S. Navy including Sigonella, Sicily, they settled in Howard County, Maryland. Maryland has been their home for over 33 years after living and traveling all over the world.

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