Our region has seen its share of growth pressure in the past decade. Many towns have faced land use decisions at a scale, pace, and impact never before experienced on the Shore. As a result boundaries of our growth areas have been changing--sometime dramatically--and debates have erupted in towns large and small about their future.

The new comprehensive plans elements of HB 1141, focusing on more planning for annexation and water resources, are key pieces for sound town planning. The challenge for towns, however, is the ability to cobble together the resources needed to create these new comp plan elements by the deadline, October 2009. Already short on staff and time, local governments justifiably are concerned about how to meet this law.

ESLC’s Focus on Towns

ESLC is perhaps known best for conserving farmland and open space. In fact, since 1990, this work has resulted in over 45,000 acres of newly protected land. Parallel to this, ESLC created a policy and education program that has been advancing sound land use planning. To date, much of our efforts on both fronts have focused at the county and regional level. This focus is evolving as the pressures in the landscape change, and ESLC is looking to a next horizon of working with our small towns and growth areas—helping these communities realize their potential as quality, attractive, healthy places to live. One of our first solid steps in this critical vein of work centers on HB 1141.

 HB 1141 Support

In an effort to start addressing the planning resource scarcity that make the HB 1141 requirements a serious challenge, ESLC, MDP, and Keith Campbell Foundation began strategizing on a project proposal early this year. Emerging from these conversations was the intention to bring to the Eastern Shore tailored planning support for towns and counties specifically on HB 1141 and related issues. In early June, ESLC launched a search for a talented energetic planer to coordinate direct support. For the full job description, please click here. As the hire process is underway, a HB 1141 and land use planning needs assessment of local governments on the Eastern Shore is being conducted by current ESLC staff. Further, ESLC is offering grant writing support to towns eligible for the Sustainable Communities funding which can be used for HB 1141 work. For more information, please contact Amy Owsley, Director of Land Use Planning, 410-827-9756, ext 168.

The changes in circuit rider planning services from the MDP have led to confusion about ESLC’s HB 1141 effort. ESLC’s town planning work was born before the MDP staffing changes, and they are not intended to replace the MDP services. Rather, they are focused specifically on providing on the short-term HB 1141 support, and, on the longer-term, to help ESLC understand our most effective role in town planning.

More specifically on HB 1141, this law requires that all municipalities include in their comprehensive plans two new pieces by October 2009: a municipal growth elements and a water resources element. While the Maryland Department of Planning may grant up to two six-month extensions to this date (as long as municipalities are working in good faith on these new elements), municipalities cannot rezone land until the requirements are fulfilled.