eastern shore maryland farmland conservation

ESLC

June 8, 2012

Change is inevitable, progress a choice

“Change is inevitable, but progress is a choice.” This is a small selection of the words of wisdom that Ed McMahon imparted on the audience during his keynote address. As the world pushes forward through the 21st century, the pace at which technology and the economy change seems to accelerate at an exponential rate. However, society must be conscious that the actions made today have great implications in the future. The jobs we create and the communities we develop are all interconnected. Just as important as the quantity of jobs created is the quality of jobs created. What kinds of jobs do we hope our children will have? How do we preserve the quality of life for the future generation while nurturing economic growth? These are questions that residents of rural areas and small towns must ask themselves when they plan for the future. Keep in mind that progress does not need to be sacrificed for the sake of conservation. The environment often can be a boon for job growth. Parks and trails increase traffic in local businesses. They also can provide a source of ecotourism. The Eastern Shore with its vast expanses of agricultural and natural lands has assets that many other regions lack. It is important to consider these amenities when deciding the next steps.

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June 8, 2012

Good morning, rural Maryland

The Tidewater Inn’s Crystal Room at 6 a.m. is stark contrast to the expected bustle of activity three hours later. As the sun barely peeks above the horizon and filters through the windows, a room full of empty chairs and a sole podium sit in quiet anticipation of the arriving day. At 9 a.m. the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s thirteenth Annual Planning Conference kicks off. This year, the theme and title of the conference is “Rural Jobs Summit: Vibrant Towns + Working Landscapes.” Today a collection of elected officials, organization heads, local business representatives, community planners, and others will meet to discuss the economic future of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A number of notable speakers will be in attendance, including Deputy Secretary Dominick Murray of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute, and Stephen McKnight of Fourth Economy Consulting. From this conference, attendees hope to develop an image of the Eastern Shore that they would like to come to fruition. Even in the face of national economic stagnation, the region has an optimistic outlook. Outside, the sun continues to rise higher in the sky spraying rays of light onto the ground below, unhindered by clouds. It looks to be another beautiful June day, undoubtedly a fortuitous sign of the future of the Eastern Shore.

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May 24, 2012

Transportation: Take the Long View (Commentary)

The following commentary was printed May 24, 2012 in The Baltimore Sun and at CenterMaryland.org: The quiet, staggering problem at the center of last Session’s gasoline tax debate was this: Maryland does not have the money to maintain our transportation system. In the fervor, it was easy to miss the reason for the debate. The crisis began when we consumers, in response to the recession, turned to cars with better gas mileage, to car pooling, to transit – any means to decrease our own pain at the pump. The transportation trust fund, already weakened from regular budget raiding, was further diminished as the main funding stream - the per-gallon tax - dwindled. This transportation funding crisis hamstrings not only rural regions like my Eastern Shore that are deeply dependent on our roads and bridges, but is a limiting factor for the future vibrancy of our urban areas. Hectic, long commutes, safety concerns, and poor alternatives thwart healthy growth in cities. A number of fixes for short-term relief have been debated unsuccessfully. But, we left off the table some important, long-term solutions that do more than kick the can down the road. The long-view is needed now. Whether we are talking about new or existing funding, tight, fiscally-prudent criteria on transportation spending are needed. Criteria should focus our investments to those needs most pressing and those that serve the most people. For example, investment in Shore Transit and Maryland Upper Shore Transit is sorely needed today to serve those unable to drive, and tomorrow as an opportunity for the broader population. For our communities, investment in walkability and bike-ability is essential to minimize traffic and for our health. To fix the longest term culprit for transportation funding, we need smarter, more sustainable land use planning. Consider this: The Maryland Department of Planning tells us that in the

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April 24, 2012

ESLC Statement on Sine Die

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland General Assembly’s 90-day Legislative Session came to a close Monday night with a fair amount of cheers and groans by conservationists, as multiple environmental and land use bills passed and many important questions remained unanswered. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) was pleased to see a number of its legislative priorities pass during the topsy-turvy 2012 session. Multiple bills were proposed that could have a significant effect on agricultural land use, including an important first step to curb rural sprawl in the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 (SB 236). This bill helps to classify where septic systems can be built, as a mechanism to help stabilize the proliferation of septic systems. Another important win was the passing of the Family Farm Preservation Act of 2012 (SB 294). Often the most vulnerable time for a family farm is when it shifts between generations. This bill will make it easier for most agricultural land to be passed down to a relative, without the added burden of an estate tax, as long as the land will stay in agricultural production. “Overall, this session was a success for those who care about preserving agricultural land and the character of places like the Eastern Shore,” said ESLC Deputy Director Amy Owsley. “ESLC had a much greater presence at the state level this year, including presenting in front of the Eastern Shore Delegation, helping sponsor the ‘Taste of the Eastern Shore’ Legislative Night, and personally visiting more than 60 offices of elected officials.” In the pursuit of cleaner water and a cleaner environment, several environmental bills passed, including an increase in the Bay Restoration Fund (SB 240) that will help pay for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. The Stormwater Management Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (HB 987) bill required the state’s largest jurisdictions to develop a

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April 13, 2012

ESLC Announces 13th Annual Planning Conference

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy announces our 13th Annual Planning Conference, to be hosted Friday, June 8, 2012, at the Tidewater Inn in Easton, Maryland. The conference will draw together community leaders, elected officials, planners, designers, entrepreneurs and farmers from around the region to discuss and envision the economic landscape of the Eastern Shore, Delmarva and rural areas throughout the region. Conference attendees will engage in workshops with their peers and colleagues to learn more about diversification and shifts in the agricultural economy; methods for anchoring towns in working landscapes; and the legislative and regional policy tools needed to enable the economic future that is possible for the region. Attendees will work together to articulate an agenda for sustainable prosperity for the Eastern Shore. Please register today. View the full agenda, speaker biographies, venue details and other resources.

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ESLC

Change is inevitable, progress a choice

Good morning, rural Maryland

Transportation: Take the Long View (Commentary)

ESLC Statement on Sine Die

ESLC Announces 13th Annual Planning Conference

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