In last month’s edition of Planning Practice Monthly, we introduced the Maryland Housing Needs Assessment & 10-Year Strategic Plan (Needs Assessment) and why it is needed. Commissioned by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) at the University of Maryland, and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., the Needs Assessment sheds light on the importance of providing affordable housing in our communities and to “chart a course for Maryland to become a more affordable place to live by 2030.”

The report outlines key housing needs affecting renters and homeowners, articulates a unified vision for housing investments across Maryland, and provides tools to help achieve this vision. This document serves the important purpose of not only identifying the housing needs and challenges facing Maryland renters and homeowners, but also providing insightful and actionable ideas for local governments and non-profits seeking to provide solutions and relief in their communities.

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In 2021 the City of Frederick was awarded a US EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grant from EPA Region III to conduct Phase I and II environmental site assessments (ESAs) of brownfield sites in the city (refer to EPA’s fact sheet, Assessing Brownfield Sites, for a definition and description of Phase I and II ESA processes).

The Frederick Department of Economic Development will soon issue an RFP seeking one or more qualified environmental professionals (QEPs) to perform up to six Phase I and II ESAs, initially on city-owned sites with optional assessments on private sites at the request of site owners. Additional grant activities will include developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), creating a communications strategy, and obtaining community input on the process. Kick-off for the effort began early this year and grant activities will be completed in 2024.

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Did you know flooding is the number one natural hazard in Maryland? According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, every year, floods in Maryland kill more residents and destroy more property than any other natural hazard.

As recently as October, 2021, a storm caused flooding throughout the state due to heavy rain and flooding in tidally-affected areas, as a result of strong winds pushing water toward the shore. This otherwise ordinary but intense rainstorm resulted in abnormally high water that lasted several days before receding. Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in 16 counties and the City of Baltimore in response to the disaster. Such unnamed, but potentially destructive, storms are becoming more and more frequent.

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Many jurisdictions coordinate the development of new comprehensive plans with the arrival of decennial census data. Census data is a foundation of comprehensive planning, providing a snapshot of Maryland communities, outlining growth trends, and distinguishing key demographic indicators.

In 2013, House Bill 409 increased the review period for comprehensive plans to 10 years from six years. To learn more about the 10-year cycle and when your jurisdiction’s review is due, please visit the Maryland Department of Planning’s (Planning) Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Review Cycle webpage.

As the lead agency for both the Maryland Census 2020 and the 60-day review of comprehensive plans and their amendments, Planning is steeped in this topic. Planning began listing comprehensive planning efforts in our September 2020 Planning Practice Monthly edition and will continue to track and publish website links in in future editions as we become aware of local efforts.

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The Urban Trees Grant Program, a requirement by the Maryland General Assembly as a component of a 5,000,000-tree goal by 2031, welcomes requests for tree planting projects in urban, underserved communities. Applications may be submitted online until 4:00 pm EST on March 3, 2022.

The goal of the Urban Trees Grant Program is to green communities and to enhance quality of life, human health, and community livability by improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect. Another aim is to mitigate effects of climate change. Communities eligible to apply must be in urban areas with low to median household income levels, high unemployment, neighborhoods with public housing, or those that were historically redlined at any time. Redlining is a term that describes a variety of race-based strategies, expressly endorsed by governments at various levels, that were used in the past to reinforce residential segregation.

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Applications are now being accepted for the Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program FY22 round of grants. Applications may be submitted online until March 15, 2022.

The Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program promotes the acquisition, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic properties in Maryland. Eligible properties are limited to those which are listed in or determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing structure within a district.

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment on the proposed FY23 annual work plans for the Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River state forests.

Annual work plans help DNR identify priorities within the scope of the forests’ long-range management. They address composition, establishment, growth, health, and quality, along with construction and maintenance projects. The public comment period concludes March 4, 2022.

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Last fall, in our September 2021 edition of Planning Practice Monthly, we announced the availability of the Economic Adjustment Strategy Summary (EAS) Report for the forestry industry. In that edition, we also summarized the document and described its importance to the state and to the Maryland Department of Planning.

The EAS is a plan that will serve as a recovery roadmap for Maryland’s forest products industry. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council (WMRC&D) commissioned consultants from Agricultural and Community Development Services, LLC, to develop the EAS for the forestry industry in response to its decline in recent years. Funding for the EAS was provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, DNR, Commerce, Agriculture, and other partners.  

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In 2021, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) began recruiting mentors to share their experience, wisdom, and lessons learned with new Planning Commissioners and Board of Appeals members. The MPCA reiterated this desire during its 2021 conference and is initiating the program in 2022. The MPCA has recruited a few mentors but is once again asking its members to consider helping those new to citizen planning.

The MPCA’s Strategic Plan commits the organization to develop training and other resources to share knowledge, best practices, and run effective meetings. The MPCA Executive Committee is confident our best resource is the dedicated and experienced citizen planners who volunteer their time and energy to community development and sustainable growth throughout Maryland.

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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.

Chesapeake Bay Webinar Series, Leveraging Hazard Mitigation for Water Quality Benefits
Thursday, March 17 @ 12 p.m.
AICP CM Approved 
For More Information

Precision Conservation & Geospatial Analysis

Wednesday, March 23 @ 12 p.m.
For More Information

MDOT Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program
Maryland Department of Transportation -

Deadline: April 1
For More Information