Maryland is losing almost 14,000 acres of open space to development every year.
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Maryland stands at a crossroads as we prepare for 1.5 million expected new residents in the next 25 years. From 2003 to 2004 Maryland
counties approved over 90,000 new building permits across the state. As a result, Maryland is losing almost 14,000 acres of open space
to development every year.
Recently, Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center, working closely with 1000 Friends of Maryland and other experts in the field, began the long process of researching policies, educating the public and decision-makers and building support for a better model of growth in Maryland.
Smart growth policy
Last summer Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center participated in four regional visioning exercises called “Reality Check Plus: Envision Maryland.” The exercises brought over 850 people from all walks of life together to create a unified image of Maryland 25 years from now.
The diverse group, from western Maryland to the eastern shore, composed of developers and conservationists, found a common vision: As Maryland grows we must protect environmentally sensitive areas, direct new growth into existing population centers, and provide mass transit in every region of the state.
Even though there is a wide consensus on how Maryland should grow in order to improve communities and protect our natural heritage, realizing this vision is a much more difficult challenge.
The process of developing smart growth policy began in October with a series of follow-up meetings organized by 1000 Friends of Maryland. The meetings focused on three issue areas, including preserving open space, increasing population density, and providing public transit options. Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center helped to analyze the policies and develop them into effective steps towards the Reality Check Plus vision.
Educating the public
Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center also released a report, “Our Natural Heritage at Risk: Threats Facing Seven of Maryland’s Most Special Places.” The report analyzed the environmental importance of land conservation, highlighting seven places across Maryland that provide important ecological functions. The places included the Prettyboy Reservoir Watershed in northern Carroll and Baltimore Counties, Terrapin Run in Garrett County, Assawoman Bay in Worcester County, farmland in Cecil County, the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, the Annapolis Neck in Anne Arundel County, and the Patuxent River Rural Legacy Area in Prince George’s County.
The report found that the environmental benefits of preserving open space far outweigh the financial costs of land conservation and smarter growth. Maryland must ensure that funds dedicated to conservation are not diverted in times of fiscal pressure. The state must also prepare for the coming population growth by acting now to plan for and accommodate that new development.
Staff from Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center spoke at several forums this fall, educating the public and decision-makers about the importance of smarter growth. In October, staff attorney Jennifer Bevan-Dangel participated in a panel of experts at a forum on development in Anne Arundel County. In November she ran a workshop at Baltimore’s first Jewish Environmental Conference where she provided an overview of the legislative process and the problems associated with sprawling development. |
