Howard County?s long-term plan for growth can absorb the anticipated influx of residents from the military base realignment at Fort Meade, according to an interim report from the county?s Base Closure and Realignment task force.
“Fort Meade growth is the names and faces on the planning projections,” said BRAC executive Director Kent Menser.
Rather than add to the expected growth in the coming years, BRAC jobs will account for that growth outlined in the county?s General Plan, Menser said.
However, BRAC will change the dynamics of that growth, Menser said, straining traffic and affordable housing.
The task force recently presented County Executive Ken Ulman with the report, as the group moved into the third phase of its project.
The report included findings infrastructure and commercial development, health and human services, work force development, education, public safety and transportation.
Among the findings were:
» Human services will be aggravated by Fort Meade growth, and the high-income BRAC families could increase the strain on low-income residents.
» The county should work with the school system to generate interest in science and technology programs and create a pathway into this work force.
» Local bus service should be expanded and include express routes and park and ride lots.
The Odenton base could see about 22,000 new jobs with 10,679 projected households.
