The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) strives to inform counties and municipalities of legislation that impacts local planning efforts, and as needed, develop guidance and technical assistance to help jurisdictional staff and citizen planners address any new requirements or access new resources.

Planning did this with our Housing Element Models & Guidelines (2019 HB 1045), Nuisance Flood Plan Development Guidance (2019 HB 1427), Managing Maryland’s Growth: Transitioning to the 10-Year Review Cycle (2013 HB 409), and Sustainable Growth & Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 Implementation (2012 SB 236). Planning will continue to develop the tools to help jurisdictions address legislative challenges and leverage legislative incentives and funding.

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In the January edition of Planning Practice Monthly, we introduced the Maryland Housing Needs Assessment & 10-Year Strategic Plan (Needs Assessment) and how it can be of value to Maryland jurisdictions in developing the required Housing Elements in their comprehensive plans. In February we summarized Section 2 of the report, dealing with proposed statewide priorities and in March we covered Section 3, which addressed the state of housing in Maryland. Last month, we took a look at Section 4, Needs by region & core actions to address them.

This month, we are reviewing Section 5, Maryland Housing Toolbox and finally, this summer we will launch a series of “how-to” articles for local governments seeking to incorporate the information and recommendations found in the Needs Assessment into the required housing element section of their comprehensive plans, as specified in HB 1045 (2019).

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The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) recently updated its Maryland Growth & Conservation Map to include Maryland Coast Smart - Climate Ready Action Boundary (CS-CRAB) information. This GIS overlay to the Growth and Conservation interactive map shows local and state targeted growth and conservation areas for coordinated planning, management, and resource allocation. The purpose of displaying these areas is to identify where and how local and state government and the private sector can work together to achieve common goals. 

One of the primary applications of the Growth and Conservation Map is to improve coordination at the state and local level, specifically in the planning and development of new state capital projects.

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On April 28, Governor Larry Hogan participated in a ceremonial flag raising to signal the reactivation of the site of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Cecil County. The ceremony celebrated the beginning of development activities for 3.7 million square feet of logistics and distribution space across 440 acres.

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The Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards celebrate significant achievements by individuals, businesses, organizations, and local governments to realize the twelve planning visions adopted by the Maryland General Assembly. The annual awards promote exemplary work that represents or inspires collaboration, innovation, conservation, community impact and quality of life.

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Planning Practice Monthly has been reporting for some time on the advent of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies and the Statewide CAV Working Group' s efforts to begin planning for new modes of transportation that will likely include driverless and/or self-driving vehicles in the not-so-distant future. (Visit our archives webpage to read additional CAV coverage.)

It’s one thing to discuss implementing CAV technologies; however, it’s an entirely different story to craft policies and regulations for adopting them, much less to identify and construct new infrastructure to make their use viable and safe. So, what are the steps involved? How does a jurisdiction begin to understand and plan for technologies that still feel distant and futuristic, but are seemingly inevitable and just over the horizon?

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The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced its FY23 application round for six State Revitalization Programs is now open. Applications are due by Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 3 p.m. 

These programs offer funding to support local housing, community and economic development, and other revitalization projects. They are part of the department’s commitment to helping the state’s local governments and nonprofit agencies achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals.

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In April’s edition of Planning Practice Monthly we covered the upcoming federal grant program aimed at promoting safer streets and roadways across the country. On May 17^th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the application process is now open. The grants are available to communities of all sizes to apply for $1 billion in FY22 funding to help ensure safe streets and roads for all and address the national roadway safety crisis. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program provides dedicated funding to support regional, local, and Tribal plans, as well as projects and strategies that will prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

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ARC is excited to co-host its 2022 annual conference titled One Appalachia: Connection & Collaboration with the state of Maryland, October 17-19, at the Rocky Gap Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. 

This event will highlight how ARC’s 13 states and 423 counties are collaborating to bring each of ARC’s strategic investments to life. The conference will feature ARC partners who work daily to strengthen Appalachia by creating and expanding workforce development, growing sectors like outdoor recreation, developing entrepreneurs, and building leadership and community capacity.

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The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently announced the release of a statewide bicycle level of traffic stress (LTS) analysis.  A goal of the 2019 Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, the LTS analysis scores how bikeable a roadway is based on the type of bicycle facility, traffic volumes, and speed. The LTS results help provide a basis for understanding how accessible Maryland’s road and trail networks are for various cycling audiences. 

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As part of Preservation Month, the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) (a division of the Maryland Department of Planning) is presenting 10 awards this May for noteworthy accomplishments in the preservation field. The awards recognize outstanding education, restoration, and revitalization projects, as well as organizational and individual leadership.

The 47th annual Maryland Preservation Awards, selected by MHT’s Board of Trustees, are being live streamed to MHT’s Facebook page throughout May. For a list of the upcoming events and to see recordings of the presentations that have already occurred, please visit MHT’s Facebook page. 

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The Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) will host the 2022 fall annual conference in Frederick City on October 25 and 26. The theme of this year’s conference is Planning for Challenges on the Horizon. The MPCA has conducted its past two conferences virtually and is very excited to meet up with everyone again in person. The MPCA will monitor the pandemic and adjust as necessary.

Last year’s theme and session topics focused on getting back to planning in a world still impacted by uncertainty, but also one in which citizen planners needed to forge ahead. That uncertainty remains, but so do the challenges on the horizon. In a planning community navigating its way through the pandemic while simultaneously tackling the difficult issues of the 21^st century, the benefits of a functioning and thriving citizen planning board are more apparent than ever.

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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.

Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference
Ocean City Convention Center
June 12 - 15
For More Information

ARC Conference: One Appalachia
October 17 - 19
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Chesapeake Bay Webinar Series, Smart Growth Tools for Protecting Water Resources
Thursday, June 16 @ 12 p.m.
AICP CM Approved 
For More Information

Funding Initiatives for Clean Water & Conservation
Wednesday, June 22 @ 12 pm
For More Information

A New Tool for Examining City and County Level CO2 Emissions

Wednesday, June 1, 9:00 am to 12 pm, Wheaton, MD
For More Information

2022 Pollinator Garden Tour
Thursday, June 23 - 25, 6 pm, Snow Hill, MD
For More Information

FY23 Community Investment Tax Credit Program
MD Department of Housing and Community Development Deadline: June 2
For More Information

Grant Applications to Open for Six State Housing Revitalization Programs
MD Department of Housing and Community Development Deadline: July 13
For More Information