The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) 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 new requirements or access resources. MDP previously responded to legislative initiatives with our Housing Element Models & Guidelines (2019 HB 1045, 2021 HB 90), 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). MDP will continue to develop the tools to help jurisdictions address legislative challenges and leverage legislative incentives and funding.

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In April, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) launched a new online tree survey, which is a mapping tool designed to help track the state’s progress in its ambitious goal of planting five million native trees by 2031.

Finalized in October 2022, The Five Million Tree Plan was developed by the Maryland Commission for the Innovation and Advancement of Carbon Markets and Sustainable Tree Plantings (Commission). The Maryland General Assembly established the Commission with the Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021.

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The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) and the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA), in conjunction with Maryland Municipal League (MML), invite you to attend the Planning Commissioners Training Course, either in-person or virtually, on Sunday, June 25 at the MML summer conference in Ocean City. 

The Smart and Sustainable Growth Act of 2009 directs county and municipal planning commission/board and board of appeals members to complete an education course. The Planning Commission, Planning Board, and Board of Appeals Education Course, also known as the Planning Commissioner Training Course, hosted by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), satisfies this state requirement per Section 1-206 of the Land Use Article. 

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The Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards celebrate significant achievements by individuals, businesses, organizations or local governments in realizing the 12 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.

The annual awards are presented by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and are the highest level of recognition for smart growth and sustainability in the state. The 2023 Sustainable Growth Awards nominations for the eleventh annual Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards are being accepted through July 21, 2023

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A division of the Maryland Department of Planning, the Maryland State Data Center is the state’s primary liaison with the Census Bureau. MSDC provides Maryland residents, businesses, and local governments with demographic and socioeconomic statistics. It also produces the State’s official population and household projections and develops school enrollment forecasts.

On May 25^th 2023, the Demographic Profiles and Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC) were released for all geographies.

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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 the Maryland Department of Planning’s (MDP’s) Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Review Cycle webpage.

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An upcoming event will bring together military leadership, defense communities, and industry representatives for two days of collaboration.

Hosted by the Maryland Department of Commerce and Association of Defense Communities, the Maryland Defense Forum  is set to host discussions on building military resilience and readiness; critical Department of Defense (DoD) technologies; supply chain diversification; government contracting challenges; and more.

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The new Community Connectors grant program will help advance locally-driven projects to reconnect communities separated or harmed by divisive transportation infrastructure and access available federal and state funds to support these projects.

Organizers are seeking 15 teams (i.e., public agencies partnered with nonprofits or other community organizations) from communities with populations of 50,000-500,000 to receive a capacity-building grant of up to $130,000, tailored training and support from national experts, and the opportunity to engage with peer communities at a convening and learning exchange in fall, 2023.

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Last month, we announced that the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) is accepting session proposals for its 40^th annual conference, which are due  June 9. You can now register to join MPCA for the conference on Kent Island from October 24 – 26. This year’s conference theme is 40 Years of Change, 40 Years of Opportunity.

The conference will offer sessions on topics of interest such as climate change and resiliency, changing demographics, infrastructure, accessing funding, and more to the thousands of citizen planners serving Maryland's counties and municipalities.

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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.

Increasing Climate and Flood Resilience in Coastal Maryland Communities
Crownsville, MD
May 31 
For More Information

Maryland Defense Forum
Annapolis, MD
June 5 - 6 
For More Information

DOT Justice40 ETC Explorer Tool Updates
Friday, June 2 @ 1 p.m.
For More Information

Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Deadline: June 6
For More Information

State Revitalization Program Grants
MD Department of Housing and Community Development
Deadline: June 29
For More Information