In This Issue
Planning in Progress
Local Spotlight
From our Partner Agencies
In Case you Missed It!
MPCA Corner
Conferences, Webinars, Training, and Funding
Planning in Progress
We will continue to provide updates about these exciting efforts as they develop in upcoming issues.
Annexation Frequently Asked Questions
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Interagency Workgroups Share the Benefits of Three Years of Regional Collaboration
In March 2019, staff representatives for every Maryland state agency on the Commerce Subcabinet (Subcabinet) met in Lanham to discuss a new initiative titled Regional Resources. The Subcabinet established interagency staff teams representing five regions (Eastern Shore, Baltimore Metro, Southern Maryland, Western Maryland, and Washington Metro) to collaborate in business and community development across the state.
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Local Spotlight
New Decade Means New Comprehensive Plans
Many jurisdictions coordinate new comprehensive plans with the arrival of the decennial census. Census data is the foundation for 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 from six to ten years. To learn more about the ten-year cycle and when your jurisdiction’s review is due, please visit Planning’s Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Review Cycle webpage.
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From our Partner Agencies
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum Receives $49,000 Grant to Study Early Twentieth-Century Rural Wallville Community
The Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), both divisions of the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning), announced last month receiving a $49,000 grant from the Department of Interior’s National Park Service Civil Rights grant program. The grant will support a historical and archaeological study of Calvert County’s Wallville community.
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Than $19 Million to Revitalize Historic Buildings
The Hogan administration announced earlier this month that the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), a division of the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning), has awarded 16 projects more than $19 million in revitalization tax credits, leveraging more than $92 million in additional investment
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Town of Thurmont Places its First Electric Vehicle and Charging Stations into Service
The Town of Thurmont has placed its first all-electric fleet vehicle (or EV) into service. The 2023 Chevy Bolt was purchased from Criswell Chevrolet in Thurmont in October. The new vehicle is assigned to the Town of Thurmont’s municipal offices and will be used by office staff for administrative functions. Partial funding for the vehicle purchase comes from a Maryland Smart Energy Grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA).
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Maryland Department of Transportation Re-establishes Rail Safety Program
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently re-established the rail safety Maryland Operation Lifesaver program.
Operation Lifesaver, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1972, is a non-profit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities, and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings, as well as preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks.
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In Case you Missed It!
U.S. National Park Service: Semiquincentennial Grant Program Accepting Applications for FY2022
Congress created this grant program in 2020 to support the preservation of state-owned sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation.
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MPCA Corner
MPCA Thanks its Partners for a Fantastic 39th Annual Conference: Message from MPCA President Danny Winborne
The 39th annual Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) conference, Planning for Challenges on the Horizon, was an even greater success than we could have imagined!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was MPCA’s first in-person conference since 2019. While we enjoyed the 2020 and 2021 virtual versions, there is nothing like gathering in one place and sharing the joy, frustration, and sense of accomplishment that is citizen planning.
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MPCA Recognizes Citizen Planners
Maryland’s citizen planners volunteer endless hours to their communities. Unfortunately, this civic dedication often goes overlooked. However, each year at MPCA’s annual conference, the Executive Committee recognizes the contributions of exceptional citizen planners and/or entire planning boards (planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, historic district commissions) from around the state. This year was no exception!
Efforts deserving praise include: comprehensive planning; zoning code updates or rewrites; engaging the community in planning efforts or education; economic development initiatives; focused neighborhood revitalization; historic preservation; collaboration with professional planners and the planning community; inter-jurisdictional coordination; and other unique planning programs and initiatives.
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MPCA Welcomes Two New Board Members!
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Continuing Education & Training
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.
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Upcoming Conferences and Seminars
Planning related conferences in Maryland and nearby states.
Maryland Association of Counties Winter Conference
Cambridge. MD
January 4-6, 2023
For More Information
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Webinars
Listed webinars are typically free or low cost and cover a wide range of planning related issues. Many include CM credits.
Training Around the State
Workshops and classes offered by state agencies or our partners.
Funding Opportunities
Federal, state and/or non-governmental funding.
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Planning Practice Wednesday is a service of the Maryland Department of Planning. The Maryland Department of Planning is providing links to training and educational content relevant to planning and growth as a service to its mailing list subscribers. The content and views expressed are not necessarily those of Planning or the State of Maryland.
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