Gov. Martin O’Malley is proposing six legislative initiatives to strengthen smart growth and development, including a bill to force counties to follow their own comprehensive plans and another to extend the existing state tax credits for historic structures.
The governor also plans to propose legislation to measure what really constitutes “smart growth” — planning that targets development to areas with existing roads, sewer and infrastructure, rather than farms or open space.
The state task force on growth and development submitted its report and recommendations to O’Malley on Monday, but only a few of its proposals are implemented by the governor’s legislation.
“On one side of the issue people think we’re moving too slowly and that we need to be going a lot further,” O’Malley said. “On the other side, there are people who believe that we are moving too quickly.”
He said the tension probably means that the state is making progress at preserving open space. He said about one fifth of the state’s land is now developed, and another fifth is permanently protected as open space or farmland. The question is how to protect the rest of the land
One piece of O’Malley’s plan would overturn a Court of Appeals opinion that held that local comprehensive zoning plans were only guidelines, and could be disregarded in specific zoning decisions. The proposed measure would require counties to follow the comprehensive plan it adopts.
Del. Richard Sossi, R-Queen Anne’s County, who attended the announcement, said he saw no problem with O’Malley’s problems, but “we’ll see how the bills come in.”
