mygoldnhorse
Cowgirl Up
Sprawl is paving over Maryland, threatening our drinking water, and imposing on our quality of life. At the very least, we must stop this from happening to lands already protected from development.
Two years ago, the state was caught red-handed trying to sell protected land to a developer to build luxury homes. In 2004, the state tried to sell the so- called Salem Tract—an environmentally sensitive 836- acre tract of land in St. Mary’s County—to a private developer for the same price the state purchased it in 2003. The developer, who stood to gain approximately $7 million in tax breaks in exchange for donating about 200 acres to St. Mary’s for schools and to preserve the remaining land, pulled out of the deal when press exposed that he planned to build houses on portions of the “preserved” property. Next month, we’re going to have the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would prevent that sort of thing from happening.
The 2005 General Assembly, passed a bill with bipartisan support which established the language for the constitutional amendment and that it be submitted to Maryland voters for adoption or rejection. This amendment, Question #1 on the November ballot, will prevent the state from selling any preserved state park, conservation, or recreational land without approval from the General Assembly and if passed would ultimately protect farms, parks, and open spaces for future generations. Both gubernatorial candidates support the amendment, which goes hand-in-hand with other legislation passed to protect open space.
Ballot Language:
Question 1 - Constitutional Amendment
Disposition of Park Lands
The Board of Public Works may not approve the sale, transfer, exchange, grant or other permanent disposition of any state-owned outdoor recreation, open space, conservation, preservation, forest, or parkland without the express approval of the General Assembly or of a committee that the General Assembly designates by statute, resolution or rule.
Two years ago, the state was caught red-handed trying to sell protected land to a developer to build luxury homes. In 2004, the state tried to sell the so- called Salem Tract—an environmentally sensitive 836- acre tract of land in St. Mary’s County—to a private developer for the same price the state purchased it in 2003. The developer, who stood to gain approximately $7 million in tax breaks in exchange for donating about 200 acres to St. Mary’s for schools and to preserve the remaining land, pulled out of the deal when press exposed that he planned to build houses on portions of the “preserved” property. Next month, we’re going to have the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would prevent that sort of thing from happening.
The 2005 General Assembly, passed a bill with bipartisan support which established the language for the constitutional amendment and that it be submitted to Maryland voters for adoption or rejection. This amendment, Question #1 on the November ballot, will prevent the state from selling any preserved state park, conservation, or recreational land without approval from the General Assembly and if passed would ultimately protect farms, parks, and open spaces for future generations. Both gubernatorial candidates support the amendment, which goes hand-in-hand with other legislation passed to protect open space.
Ballot Language:
Question 1 - Constitutional Amendment
Disposition of Park Lands
The Board of Public Works may not approve the sale, transfer, exchange, grant or other permanent disposition of any state-owned outdoor recreation, open space, conservation, preservation, forest, or parkland without the express approval of the General Assembly or of a committee that the General Assembly designates by statute, resolution or rule.
." In the end, it really won't make a bit of difference. Some developer will come calling with his checkbook out and all bets are off.
It's great to hear somebody honest for once! I agree, my house is built, stop NOW! 
So what you are saying is that you/your family never use protected land...via our State parks, Recreation Parks, etc. So if they were gone it would not be of concern 
to you? This I find hard to believe...but to each his own. I myself spend very little time within the confines of a house and I enjoy being outside. With so much building going on in Southern MD protecting these amenities I would think would be of the utmost concern to us all.