BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
December 18, 2001
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Contents:

*Carroll County Zoning Law Stirs State Action
*Jan. 10 Symposium Looks at Economics of Rail Transit
*Community Legacy Fund Grantees Announced
*Funding Requested For East Baltimore Biotech Park
*CBF Report Critiques DC-Area Transit Parking Policies
*Calendar of Events

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CARROLL COUNTY ZONING LAWS STIRS STATE ACTION

Estimating that a new Carroll County zoning law would allow an
additional 4,300 houses to be constructed on rural land, the Maryland
Department of Planning has told the county it will lose state
certification of its agricultural land preservation program if it does
not repeal the law by January 15, 2001.  The near-term impact of this
state action would be the loss of over $400,000 of state funds earmarked
for agricultural preservation in Carroll County.  The element of the law
at issue is the new ability of landowners to transfer development rights
from conservation zones, which allow one dwelling unit for every three
acres, to agriculture zones, which currently allow one house only every
twenty acres. Environmental conditions in conservation zones often limit
development there, leading foes of the law to predict more new houses if
those development rights can be transferred to agricultural land.  Sun
stories are available at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.zoning07dec07.story and

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.zoning09dec09.story. 
The Carroll County Times stories available at
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2785795&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156627&rfi=6
and
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2771367&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156627&rfi=6


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SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS THE ECONOMICS OF RAIL TRANSIT

The Maryland Tranisit Administration continues its symposium series on
January 10, 2002 with the fifth forum on the Economics of Rail Transit. 
Two nationally recognized speakers will present from a conservative
political perspective how rail transit is an economic victory for
multiple segments of sociey.  The symposium begins at 8:00  AM at the
Maritime Institute of Technology, 5700 Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum,
MD.  Reservations are absolutely required and can be arranged by calling
410.859.1000.  For additional information about the symposium and the
scheduled speakers visit
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com/pages/symposium/symposium5.htm

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COMMUNITY LEGACY FUND GRANTEES ANNOUNCED

Over $10,000,000 in State Community Legacy Funds were announced by
Governor Glendening from an Annapolis neighborhood on December 11. 
Designed as a community counterpart to the state's highly successful
Rural Legacy program, the awards to 52 projects across the state seek to
help older communities preserve what is most unique about their
neighborhoods and improve their quality of life.  Projects receiving
funding included several prominent recent targets of revitalization,
such as Patterson Park in Baltimore City, Dundalk in Baltimore County,
Edgewood in Harford County, and the Rt. 1 corridor in Howard County. 
Proposed by Glendening and approved by the General Assembly earlier this
year, the Community Legacy program was a high priority for the Citizens
Planning and Housing Association, 1000 Friends of Maryland, and other
organizations involved with the Baltimore Regional Partnership.  CPHA
executive director Terri Turner serves on the Advisory Committee for the
program.  The full story can be viewed at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.community12dec12.story

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FUNDING REQUESTED FOR EAST BALTIMORE BIOTECH PARK

In a recent request to State Government in Annapolis, the Mayor of
Baltimore, Martin O'Malley has requested $15,000,000 for the proposed
Biotechnology Park in East Baltimore.  The proposed park, north of the
Johns Hopkins Medical complex would include a mix of housing and office
space.  Administration officials predict that the park, when completed
could generate as many as 8,000 new jobs and would be key to the
redevelopment and revitalization of East Baltimore.  The state money
would be use to pay for relocation efforts of area residents affected by
the proposed project.  See the Sun article about the city's request at
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.agenda07dec07.story.

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CBF REPORT CRITIQUES DC-AREA TRANSIT PARKING POLICIES

A new report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation concludes that that the
current de facto parking policy of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority (WMATA) hinders the potential of the transit system to
reduce pollution, create better communities and a more sustainable
region.  It argues that transit ridership is much more influenced by
pedestrian access than available parking spaces, citing the "Metro
premium" of land within walking distance of stations.  Expansive surface
parking lots and garages can deter pedestrian access to Metro stations,
hindering ridership.  In the report, CBF identifies best practices from
inside and outside the Washington region and suggests new priorities and
approaches for increased transit access and a more livable region.   The
full report, titled "Building Healthier Neighborhoods with Metrorail:
Rethinking Parking Policies" can be viewed and downloaded from CBF's
website at
http://www.cbf.org/resources/pubs/rethinking_parking.pdf

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
                                         
December 19
*Public Workshop - Planning Baltimore's Regional Rail System.  7:00 PM,
Ellicott City - Howard County Office Building, 3430 Court House Drive. 
This meeting is in conjunction with Howard County Public transportation
Board Meeting.  For more information, go to:
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com/pages/publicwrkshp/intro.htm

January 8, 2002
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee.  3:30 - 6:30
PM.  Morgan State University Schaefer Engineering Building -  Library
(Room 102). 5900 Perring Parkway.  Meeting of committee advising
Maryland Transit Administration on new  transit system plan for
Baltimore region.  For more information go to www.baltimorerailplan.com.


January 10, 2002
*Planning Baltimore's Regional Rail System Symposium.  The 5th in the
series presenting views on the Economics of Rail Transit.  The program
begins at 8:00 AM at the Maritime Institute of Technology, 5700 Hammonds
Ferry Road, Linthicum, MD. Reservations are required.  For more info,
visit:
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com/pages/symposium/symposium5.htm

January 14, 2002
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 5th
District Council Town Meeting,  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  Perry Hall High
School Library.  Public meeting regarding suburban residential
development issues.  More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm . 

January 16, 2002
*Baltimore County Forum on Suburban Residential Development - 7th
District Council Town Meeting. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  Patapsco High School
Library.  Public meeting regarding suburban residential development
issues.  More information at
http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/news/suburban.cfm .

January 23, 2002
*Baltimore regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee.  3:30 - 6:30
PM.  Mondawmin Mall Community Room.  Corner of Gwynns Falls Parkway and
Reisterstown Road (adjacent to Mondawmin Metro Subway Station).  Meeting
of committee advising Maryland transit Administration on new transit
system plan for Maltimore region.  For more information, visit
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com.

February 12, 2002
*Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan Advisory Committee.  3:30 - 6:30
PM.  South Campus Technology Center.  University of Maryland Baltimore
County. ***This location is subject to change due to legislative
schedule.  Meeting of committee advising Maryland Transit Administration
pn new transit plan for Baltimore region.  For more information, visit
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com.

May 3 & May 4, 2001
*Annual Preservation and Revitalization Conference 2002.  The annual two
day conference is sponsored by Preservation Maryland and will be held in
the Historic Mount Vernon Cultural District.  The keynote speaker is
Stanley Lowe, vice president for Community Revitalization of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation.  For further information, go
to
http://www.preservemd.org/conf.html

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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.CPHARegionalCampaign.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
www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm .

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