BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
October 16, 2003
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Contents:
*Flanagan Tells Subcommittee He Is Not Anti-Transit
*Harford County Releases Draft Master Plan
*Oct. 21 Forum to Focus on New Transportation Plan
*State Transit-Related Properties Up for Sale
*Study Cites Inclusionary Zoning Successes
*Students, Parents Celebrate "Walk to School Day"
*Baltimore Co. Features Nov. Smart Growth Speakers
*Oct. 29 Workshop on Hybrid-Electric Engines
*Magazine Highlights Religion and Cities
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FLANAGAN TELLS SUBCOMMITTEE HE IS NOT ANTI-TRANSIT
On October 7, Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan defended
the Ehrlich administration before Annapolis lawmakers, saying it has
been unfairly painted as highway-loving and mass transit-hating. "We are
pro-commuter, and that means pro-transit and pro-highway," Flanagan told
the House subcommittee on transportation and the environment. "It means
a balanced program." The hearing was called by Chairman Del. Peter
Franchot, who said he was concerned by perceptions that the
administration is "either indifferent or hostile to the 600,000 people
who use public transit" in the state and is "focused solely on
highways
at the expense of transit." Franchot pointed out the administration’s
hostility toward the Purple Line project as an example.
For more information:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59165-2003Oct7.html
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HARFORD COUNTY RELEASES DRAFT MASTER PLAN
Harford County will not expand the boundaries of its designated growth
area in the next six years, according to a draft plan on land use issued
by the planning and zoning department and posted on its web site this
week. The plan also calls for phasing out conveyances of lots to
relatives in rural areas by 2007, protecting sensitive well field areas
and amending the zoning code to allow greater citizen participation.
Residents can discuss the plan with county officials in a series of
roundtable discussions, the first of which will be held at 7 p.m. Nov.
12 in the Fallston Middle School cafeteria. The department's goal is to
present the plan to the County Council for adoption in March. County
activists have reserved judgment on the draft until they had more time
to review it in detail.
For full draft plan and more information on public meetings:
http://www.co.ha.md.us/planningzoning/LandUsePlan/DraftPlan.html
Baltimore Sun article:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.plan14oct14,0,776291.story?coll=bal-local-harford
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OCT. 21 FORUM TO FOCUS ON NEW TRANSPORTATION PLAN
On October 21, the League of Women Voters will sponsor a forum outlining
the regional transportation planning process, why it is important, who
does it, how it works and how the public can be involved in developing
the next regional long range transportation plan. The event will be held
at 7:00 PM at Church of the Redeemer, 5603 North Charles Street in
Baltimore. The church is located on the east side of N. Charles St.,
just above Northern Parkway. For more information, call Pat Lane
410-664-8316.
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STATE TRANSIT-RELATED PROPERTIES UP FOR SALE
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has put up for sale
several state-owned properties around transit properties in the
Baltimore region, and it is pushing WMATA to do the same around DC-area
sites. Particularly in Prince George's County, County Executive Jack
Johnson is working with state transportation secretary Robert Flanagan
to encourage transit-oriented development on 3,000 acres of available
undeveloped land around Prince George County's 13 Metro stations.
Baltimore-area sites include land around the Rogers Avenue Metro stop,
the Rosedale Park and Ride site, and land surrounding four MARC
stations.
To see a list of available MDOT properties, see:
http://www.mdot-realestate.org/about.asp?o=1&abouttype=transitareas
To read more about plans in Prince George County, see:
http://www.gazette.net/200342/princegeorgescty/county/182911-1.html
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STUDY CITES INCLUSIONARY ZONING SUCCESSES
Policylink, a nonprofit research group, has released a study that uses
data compiled from hundred of localities to make the case that
inclusionary zoning is critical to providing affordable housing to
moderate- and low-income families in Washington, DC. “Expanding Housing
Opportunity in Washington, DC: The Case for Inclusionary Zoning” The
report shows how inclusionary zoning helps increase the development of
affordable rental and ownership units, expand opportunity by creating
mixed income communities, and contribute to deconcentration of poverty
by spreading affordable housing across jurisdictions or regions rather
than isolating it in the poorest neighborhoods. The report also makes
recommendations to jurisdictions for crafting a comprehensive and
successful inclusionary zoning program.
For the full report, go to:
http://www.policylink.org/DCIZ.html
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STUDENTS, PARENTS CELEBRATE “WALK TO SCHOOL DAY”
On October 8, schools from all 50 states and from 32 countries
participated in the seventh annual International Walk to School Day.
Spearheaded by the Partnership for a Walkable America, the event is
intended to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for
the environment. In Maryland, about 100 Myersville Elementary School
students donned walking shoes and boycotted the school bus. In a bid to
bolster these grassroots activities, legislation pending before Congress
would create a national Safe Routes to School program, devoting $250
million in transportation funds each year in an effort to make it safe,
convenient and fun for children to walk to school.
For more information on the bill, see:
http://www.americabikes.org/
To read about the Myersville Walk to School Day, see:
http://www.gazette.net/200341/brunswick/news/182042-1.html
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BALTMORE CO. FEATURES NOV. SMART GROWTH SPEAKERS
The Baltimore County Planning Board continues its series on smart growth
and community design with two speakers in November. On November 20th,
Jeff Soule will talk about how to recognize good design when we see it.
On November 6th, Geoff Ferrell will talk about how to achieve better
design through more effective codes. For more information, call Al
Svehla at 410-887-2311, or Jackie MacMillan at 410-887-3495.
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OCT. 29 WORKSHOP ON HYBRID-ELECTRIC ENGINES
A free, half-day workshop on Oct. 29 sponsored by the Baltimore
Metropolitan Council % the Maryland Energy Administration will address
the benefits of hybrid-electric engines in transit and shuttle buses.
The event will include short presentations from manufacturers and
suppliers, as well as information on funding options for implementing
this new technology. Following lunch, the workshop will move outside,
where hybrid vehicles will be available for examination. The event will
conclude with perspectives from federal transportation and energy
agencies. Participants should register by October 17
For more information, go to:
http://www.baltometro.org/hybridbus.html
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MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS RELIGION & CITIES
The third issue of the new magazine known as "The Next American City"
will focus on Religion & Cities: How Faith is Transforming Communities
Across America. Former Baltimore Regional Partnership organizer Adam
Gordon, now a Yale Law school student, helped found the magazine and
serves as editor-in-chief. Articles range from a look at Dearborn,
Michigan - America's Muslim capital - to an examination why the
Lubavitcher Jews stayed in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to a discussion of
how Christian groups are using the Bible to combat sprawl.
For more information:
http://www.americancity.org
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ABOUT THE BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND
NEWSLETTER
The Baltimore Regional Partnership is an alliance of five civic,
environmental, and anti-sprawl groups:1000 Friends of Maryland
(www.friendsofmd.org), Baltimore Urban
League (www.bul.org), Chesapeake
Bay Foundation ( www.savethebay.cbf.org),
Citizens Planning and Housing
Association (www.CPHARallyForTheRegion.org),
and Environmental Defense
(www.environmentaldefense.org).
This newsletter explores current issues, recent and upcoming events, and
ongoing deliberations that affect the region's quality of life through
transportation, economic development, and land use policy and planning.
We hope to link citizens in the region who are working to fight sprawl,
promote clean and efficient transportation, protect valuable farm and
forest lands, and revitalize urban areas, older suburbs, and historic
towns. You can view past issues at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm.
Has this newsletter been forwarded to you, and you would like to receive
it yourself? Go to
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Send us information, too. Let us know about your
work on land use and
transportation decisions that are affecting the Baltimore region. Email
information to Irene Lin at irene@balto-region-partners.org.
Visit the
Baltimore Regional Partnership website at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org.
