The Maryland Department of Planning said Baltimore City?s new master plan “does not comply with state law.” The criticism comes just weeks before major overhaul of Baltimore?s zoning and development priorities moves toward the final stages of approval, and may stall the city planning department?s ambitious schedule for final approval.
According to documents obtained by The Examiner, Maryland Director of local planning Patricia Goucher wrote that “the plan is written in such a manner that does not, in it present form address certain required elements of state law.” Cited by Goucher as general problems in her letter were inadequate provisions for stewardship of the Chesapeake bay, lack of a plan to for “conservation of resources,” and funding to achieve the plan?s “vision.”
More detailed criticism included coordinating traffic signals for the light rail as it travels through downtown, a land-use plan for the city?s educational facilities, and weaknesses in the water and sewer plan for the city, which Goucher said does not meet the “legal requirements” of the state.
Goucher said she recently met with City Planning Director Otis Rolley to discuss the water and sewer plan.
“We recommended that water sewer plan be completed separately from the master plan, so that the city could have more time,” Goucher said. But the state?s criticisms, community activists said, are indicative of flaws in the master plan that have not been addressed. Many are asking for more time to have input on a plan that is essential to the city?s future.
“The master plan is more important to the city than an election,” said Joan Floyd, a community activist that lives in the Remington area. “It needs time for scrutiny.”
Kate Edwards, a planingdepartment spokeswoman, said the city granted more time, not less, for community input on the plan.
“The requirement is only a 30-day review period, but we extended it an extra five weeks beyond the Maryland requirement,” Edwards said.
He added that city planning officials had met with planners, and the feedback was positive.
“We?re good to go, no delay,” Edwards said.
But Floyd argued that the state critique means the plan is incomplete, and justifies more time for citizen input. “We were responding to a plan that wasn?t clear,” Floyd said. “I think the state has made that clear.”
Floyd said that the city should slow down. “If getting it approved by a certain date is more important than getting it right, that?s just irresponsible,” she said.
sjanis@baltimoreexaminer
