Smart Growth Marylands Answer to Urban Sprawl Maryland

Smart Growth Maryland’s Answer to Urban Sprawl

Maryland Smart Growth Maryland looks very different today from what John Smith saw when he traveled up the Chesapeake Bay. What has changed? – Population!

Maryland Smart Growth Urban sprawl – The unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a city – Let’s take a look at a map of Maryland’s urban sprawl

Baltimore Washington D. C

What are some consequences of this?

Maryland Smart Growth Each day in Maryland green space is replaced by strip malls and subdivisions, air quality and water pollution worsen, and older communities and schools are abandoned.

Maryland Smart Growth To address these and many other harmful impacts of urban sprawl, in 1997 the State of Maryland adopted a series of measures called Smart Growth.

4 Goals of Smart Growth 1. Support existing communities by targeting resources to support development in areas where infrastructure exists

4 Goals of Smart Growth 2. Save our most valuable natural resources before they are forever lost

4 Goals of Smart Growth 3. Save taxpayers from the high cost of building infrastructure to serve development that has spread far from our traditional population centers

4 Goals of Smart Growth 4. Provide Marylanders with a high quality of life, whether they choose to live in a rural community, suburb, small town, or city.

Why do we need Smart Growth? Maryland’s goal is to use land efficiently Next we will quickly look at some of the ways that Maryland uses Smart Growth

Maryland’s principles of Smart Growth Mix land uses Take advantage of compact building design Create housing opportunities and choices Create walkable communities

Maryland’s principles of Smart Growth Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of plan Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas Provide a variety of transportation options

Maryland’s principles of Smart Growth Strengthen and direct development to existing communities Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions

Maryland Smart Growth focuses on how and where the state spends its money – This is done using financial incentives – By rewarding better land-use practices, we are beginning to reverse the trends of the 20 th Century

Maryland Smart Growth Smaller programs were developed to help facilitate Smart Growth – Priority Funding Areas: established communities & locally designated growth areas Money for new highways, water & sewer, etc. Waldorf, Baltimore, Annapolis, suburbs of D. C.

Maryland Smart Growth – Rural Legacy Areas: important agricultural land & natural resources threatened by development Protect farms, forests, historic sites & stream buffers that filter pollution from runoff as it drains into major waterways like the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland Smart Growth Community Legacy: money given to “revitalize” a community

Maryland Smart Growth How do you see Smart Growth at work where you live?