coalition backs measure to enhance Md growth laws

David

Opinions are my own...
PREMO Member
Released by the The Joint Campaign for Smart and Fair Growth on Feb. 12, 2009

Diverse coalition backs measure to enhance Maryland’s growth laws

Legislation aiming to set and enforce standards for Maryland’s Smart Growth program was introduced today with wide support from leaders in the environment, affordable housing and faith communities. Sponsored by Delegate Stephen Lafferty (D-42) in the House and Senators David Harrington (D-47) and Brian Frosh (D-16) in the Senate, the Smart Growth -- Visions and Performance Standards bill (SB878) would ensure that local land use plans are actually fulfilling the state’s goals of environmental protection and urban revitalization while conserving tax dollars. The House bill will be formally introduced later today.

“While I applaud Gov. O'Malley for his Smart, Green and Growing agenda, it is time to set out specific performance standards,” said Delegate Stephen Lafferty. “In order to revitalize communities, preserve open space and ensure a high quality of life for all Marylanders, we need standards that show we are achieving our goals. And, we must be accountable for how funds are being spent. This bill will help us get there."

With the state budget a primary concern in Annapolis this session, lawmakers are welcoming the bill, which provides new measures of accountability for state spending. Often, state investments in smart growth are overwhelmed by poorly planned development outside areas where growth is preferred and encouraged. Scattered development outside growth areas imposes high costs for new roads and other infrastructure and services. Now more than ever, the state needs to grow smarter to conserve limited tax dollars.

Smart Growth -- Visions and Performance Standards would set performance standards to ensure that local land use plans are truly advancing environmental and community goals such as protecting the Chesapeake Bay, creating communities that provide the option to walk, bicycle and use transit and meeting the housing needs of all citizens. Local governments would have great flexibility in designing their own plans for meeting the performance standards.

“Smart growth is about rededicating ourselves to protecting our natural resources while designing communities with employment opportunities, transportation choices and housing that meets the needs of all of our citizens,” said Senator Harrington. “As a former mayor and county councilmember, I know how important it is to create and implement good plans to conserve our environment and build a sustainable economy, and that’s what this bill helps to do.”

Smart Growth -- Visions and Performance Standards complements, but also builds accountability into the Smart, Green and Growing legislative agenda introduced by the O’Malley-Brown Administration. The Smart, Green and Growing legislative agenda calls for protecting the integrity of local land use plans, modernizing the State’s Planning Visions and developing Smart Growth markers for state and local governments. In addition, Governor O’Malley is proposing measures to revise and reauthorize the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program and reinforce the Transit Oriented Development bill from the 2008 legislative session.

“One thing we've learned from years of working to save Maryland's environment is that setting goals without standards and benchmarks won't do the trick,” said Senator Frosh. “We need to do better. This bill is a big step in the right direction."

Smart Growth -- Visions and Performance Standards received the support of the Joint Campaign for Smart and Fair Growth, a coalition of environmental, housing and faith-based leaders that supports new policies that will allow communities to make growth decisions that are right for their situation and needs, and that will protect and enhance community assets.

“Poorly planned development is a big reason why 80 percent of the creeks and rivers in the Bay watershed fail to meet standards for clean water,” said Kim Coble, Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “This bill will promote development in areas equipped to handle it while preserving the green infrastructure that naturally filters runoff and protects our waterways.”

“The Administration has put forward a strong package of bills to strengthen Maryland’s Smart Growth program,” said Dru Schmidt-Perkins, executive director of 1000 Friends of Maryland. “This legislation is the bow on the package. It provides clear and measurable goals to ensure that we are really growing in a smart and sustainable way, and using our precious tax dollars to invest in our communities and not encourage the development of our farms and open spaces.”

“The Visions and Performance Standards bill helps make sure smart growth benefits people from all walks of life, from doctor, to the firefighter, to the school custodian,” said Dan Pontious, executive director of the Citizens Planning and Housing Association (CPHA). “By providing more homes people can afford, it will help stabilize the housing market and help smart growth include everyone.”

Bill information can be obtained at BILL INFO-2009 Regular Session-SB 878.

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The Joint Campaign for Smart and Fair Growth is a coalition of environmental, housing and faith-based leaders that supports new policies that will allow communities to make growth decisions that are right for their situation and needs, and that will protect and enhance community assets.
 

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Smart growth is a disaster for most of the goals it purports to be in favor of.

It jams people together, sets aside some open areas and then over loads the existing ground and then, over time, the open areas WILL be consumed by new construction once the 'smart' growth areas have enough density and political inbreeding to turn development loose in the open areas.

I give you the NYC megalopolis. A better way to prevent the over crowding and density of the meglopoli is to make new homes take up more room; 1 acre or more, minimum. Spread people out.

That's how to reduce the impact on the land. :buddies:
 

jetmonkey

New Member

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