Note: Governor Wes Moore penned an opinion piece on accessible transportation in the Washington Times, on July 18, 2023, which the editors of Planning Practice Monthly know will be of interest to our readers:

By Governor Wes Moore

Show me a neighborhood with easy access to transportation, and I will show you a neighborhood that thrives. Show me a state that chooses to invest in transportation, and I will show you a state that leads. In each of America’s most influential cities and states, policymakers developed a strategic plan to make transportation accessible for all and they executed it.

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The Maryland Department of Planning’s Compatible Use Website helps to raise awareness of the economic impact of the military mission in Maryland and builds community engagement. The website provides local communities with tools and resources to promote communication and collaboration with Maryland’s military communities, ensuring compatibility between military operations, land use, and civilian needs.

A key feature of the site is the Resources tab, where users can explore upcoming events, educational opportunities, and news related to military and community compatible use. In addition to a document library, case studies, and ers to frequently asked questions, users can remain current with a variety of learning opportunities including webinars, conferences, and networking events happening in and around Maryland’s military communities.

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The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) recently developed a Local Government Annual Reporting Process Visualization/Decision Tool to guide jurisdictions through the annual reporting process. Local Government Annual reports for calendar year 2022 were officially due to the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) by July 1, 2023. If your jurisdiction has not yet submitted the annual report, it is not too late. All annual reports submitted this summer will be included in the 2023 report on Local Government Annual Reporting that MDP submits to the General Assembly every December.

MDP strives to support Maryland’s counties and municipalities in the completion and submission of annual reports. The department sends annual reminder letters to all jurisdictions with planning and zoning authority and has developed reporting form templates which organize and streamline the reporting requirements based on the number residential permits issued in a calendar year.

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A division of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), the Maryland State Data Center (MSDC), is the state’s primary liaison with the U.S. 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 July 1, 2023, the Census Bureau’s Population Division released the Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Years of Age and Sex for Maryland:  April 1, 2020, to July 1,2022 (SC_EST2022-SYA SEX-24).

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October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, as designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In Maryland, planning for Walktober 2023, a month-long celebration of Maryland’s official state exercise, is well under way and promises an exciting lineup of events and speakers.

Throughout October, Maryland state agency partners including the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), MDOT’s State Highway Administration (SHA) and Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO), and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and non-profit partners America Walks and AARP, will share information and resources, including offering four Walkinars, on the topics of walking

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The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) thanks the town of La Plata and Charles County for their assistance with a Maryland Municipal League (MML) Summer Conference session titled Think you Want to Annex? Local, Regional, and State Considerations.

MDP reviews municipal annexations, as required by Local Government Article § 4-406 (d) (2), and submits a letter to the city or town prior to the public hearing in which the annexation will be considered. MDP strives to go beyond this formal role by providing support to municipalities before, during, and after the annexation process. MDP staff developed annexation FAQs, guidance on annexation submissions, and an explanation of the importance of post annexation procedures and is readily available to help municipalities with their annexation question and needs.

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The current requirement for reviewing and updating comprehensive plans in Maryland is every ten years, as established by House Bill 409 (2013), which increased the interval between reviews from every six 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.)

Many, although not all, jurisdictions coordinate new or revised comprehensive plans with the arrival of the decennial census. Regardless of where a jurisdiction’s review falls within a decade, Census data is the foundation for comprehensive planning, providing a snapshot of Maryland communities, outlining growth trends, and distinguishing key demographic indicators.

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Plans are underway for an educational and fun tour of Kent Island and Queen Anne’s County sites at the upcoming 40^th Annual Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) Conference. Staff of Queen Anne’s County Planning and Zoning Department, MPCA, and MDP are hard at work developing an interesting line up of stops on a tour of the area.

The tour is scheduled for the afternoon of the first day of the conference, October 24, following the morning’s offerings which include the Planning Commissioner’s Training and Open Meetings Act courses. Transportation will be provided.

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The 40^th Annual Statewide Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) Conference is right around the corner and promises to be special in celebration of this major milestone!

Make sure you register and join the MPCA at the Kent Island Resort on October 24 through 26 for two and a-half days of citizen planner education, camaraderie, and networking. Don’t delay, the early bird registration rate ends August 31^st!

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Joseph “Joe” Brunt joined the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) in January as a Lead Geospatial Information Systems (GIS Analyst). In his new role, he is working on projects related to sustainability planning including Tier Map analysis and managing MDPs GIS sewerage system data layer.

Prior to coming to MDP, Joe spent several years working as a GIS analyst creating flood insurance rate maps for use by FEMA. Joe is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) where he obtained an undergraduate degree in Geography with a GIS concentration.

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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.

MACo Summer Conference: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Ocean City, MD
August 16 - 19
For More Information

Washington D.C. Architecture & Design Summit
Washington D.C.
September 28 
For More Information

Chesapeake Storm Water Network Webinar Series: The Urban Soil Conundrum
Wednesday, August 2 @ 12 p.m.
For More Information

Thinking Bigger (and Smarter): Climate, Money and Beyond
Friday, August 4 @ 1 p.m.
AICP CM Approved 
For More Information

Maryland's Climate Pathway Report and Listening Session 1
Tuesday, August 8
Hagerstown
For More Information

Maryland's Climate Pathway Report and Listening Session 2
Saturday, August 19
Salisbury
For More Information

The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP)
US DOT Federal Highway Administration 
Deadline: August 1
For More Information

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program
US DOT Federal Highway Administration
Deadline: August 18
For More Information