BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
September 4, 2001
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Contents:

*Arundel Widening Draws Citizen, Legislator Concern
*Carroll Meeting with State Official Postponed
*Harford Residents, Officials Look at Penninsula's Future
*Job Opening: Partnership Seeks Organizer
*Calendar of Events

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ARUNDEL WIDENING PLAN DRAWS CITIZEN, LEGISLATOR CONCERN

The August release of the final 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation
Plan (BRTP) has again raised local citizen concerns over the inclusion
of a project to widen MD 177 from three to five lanes.  The proposed $20
million widening would expand a road that stretches into an area of Anne
Arundel County not slated for growth.  Many citizens and members of the
area's state legislative delegation are concerned that the inclusion of
the project into the 2001 BRTP would establish anticipation of a future
widening, drawing more growth to a sensitive area of the county not
designated for growth.  August 30 Sun story available at
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.road30aug30.story

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CARROLL MEETING WITH STATE OFFICIAL POSTPONED

The proposed meeting between the Carroll County commissioners and
Maryland environment secretary Jane Nishida, listed in the "Calendar of
Events" of the Partnership's August 29 newsletter, has been postponed in
favor of staff level discussions between the two groups.  The high-level
county and state officials were to meet regarding the determined plans
of two commissioners to build a $14 million water treatment plant at
Piney Run Lake in Sykesville and the Maryland Department of the
Environment's objections.   County and state representatives hope both
staffs can engage in some preliminary "information sharing" in order to
produce a more productive public meeting in the future.  August 31 Sun
story available at
s/local/carroll/bal-ca.postpone31aug31.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dcarroll.
Contrasting comments on the topic by Commissioners Julia Gouge and
Robin Frazier available at http://ccgov.carr.org/commiss/issues.htm.

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HARFORD RESIDENTS, OFFICIALS LOOK AT PENINSULA'S FUTURE

On August 23, the third in a series of meetings gave attendees a chance
to literally draw their vision of the future of 3,000 acres of land on
the Perryman peninsula. In a process guided by consultant Anton
Nelessen, area residents designated where on the peninsula they saw
potential future sites for economic development, environmentally
sensitive lands in need of protection, and possible transit and road
connections. The process, conducted in small groups, resulted in a range
of very different plans for the peninsula, reflecting the wide range of
opinions expressed in all three meetings so far, with some residents
favoring maintaining most of the area as agriculture and others favoring
varying degrees of economic development. Nelessen will synthesize all of
these plans and come back to the group in October with a proposed master
plan for the area.  September 4 Baltimore Sun story available online at
om/news/local/bal-md.perryman04sep04.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines,
or contact Adam Gordon, Baltimore Regional Partnership, at
adam@balto-region-partners.org or Joe Kocy, Director, Harford County
Department of Planning and Zoning, at jkocy@co.ha.md.us.

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JOB OPENING: PARTNERSHIP SEEKS ORGANIZER

The Baltimore Regional Partnership is looking for a motivated and
energetic field organizer to work with communities, businesses, public 
officials, and the media to promote innovative and equitable land use
and transportation solutions to our region's sprawl problem. 
Announcement available at
www.balto-region-partners.org/job_openings.htm.  For more information or
to apply, contact Dan Pontious, Baltimore Regional Partnership, at
danp@balto-region-partners.org.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 11
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board monthly meeting with local
elected officials, 5:30 PM, Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700
Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston
St. in Canton, directly above Blockbuster Video).  Members of the public
will have an opportunity to comment directly to the region's chief local
elected officials on the draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan and
other topics.  For more information contact Joan Gorsuch, BMC, at
jgorsuch@baltometro.org, or Ryun Papson, Baltimore Regional Partnership,
at ryun@balto-region-partners.org.

September 12
*Smart Choices for Smart Growth Bus Expo, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Fleet
Reserve Club on the Annapolis Waterfront, 100 Compromise St.  Sponsored
by the Annapolis Department of Transportation for Try Transit Week 2001.
New buses and other public transportation technology on display.  The
Annapolis public transit system has doubled ridership in the past five
years.  For more information, contact Sonny Hinton at
hintons@ci.annapolis.md.us.

*Harford County Rt. 1 Revitalization Meeting, 6:30 PM, Fallston High
School Auditorium, 2301 Carrs Mill Rd., Fallson.  The results of Harford
County's planning effort to revitalize the Rt. 1 corrider will be
presented.  For more information, contact Joe Kocy, Harford County
Planning Director, at jkocy@co.ha.md.us.

*Public Scoping Meeting for Environmental Impact Statement on Maglev. 
3:30 - 7:30 PM.  St. Christopher's Church, 116 Marydel Rd., Linthicum
Heights.  A meeting to solicit public input into the development of an
Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy
Act for the Baltimore-Washington Maglev project.  More information
available at www.bwmaglev.com, or by contacting Diane Ratcliff, MTA, at
dratcliff@mdot.state.md.us.

September 13
*Forum on Transportation Connections and Alternatives in Anne Arundel
County, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Large Group Meeting Room, Magothy River Middle
School, 241 Peninsula Farm Road, Arnold.  For more information, contact
the Arnold Preservation Council at APC@riva.net.

*Public Scoping Meeting for Environmental Impact Statement on Maglev. 
3:30 - 7:30 PM.  Baltimore City Hall, 100 N. Holliday St., Baltimore.  A
meeting to solicit public input into the development of an Environmental
Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act for the
Baltimore-Washington Maglev project.  More information available at
www.bwmaglev.com, or by contacting Diane Ratcliff, MTA, at
dratcliff@mdot.state.md.us.

September 15-16
*Jones Falls Valley Celebration.  A weekend series of events and
activities that focus on the natural and recreational highlights of the
Jones Falls Valley.  More information available at www.jonesfalls.com.

September 20
*Public Scoping Meeting for Environmental Impact Statement on Maglev. 
3:30 - 7:30 PM.  Ressurection Church, 8402 Brock Bridge Rd., Laurel.  A
meeting to solicit public input into the development of an Environmental
Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act for the
Baltimore-Washington Maglev project.  More information available at
www.bwmaglev.com, or by contacting Diane Ratcliff, MTA, at
dratcliff@mdot.state.md.us.

September 24
*Public Hearing on the 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation Plan, 7:00
PM, Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston St. in Canton,
directly above Blockbuster Video).   For more information, contact Lisa
Sirota, BMC, at lsirota@baltometro.org.

September 25
*Public Scoping Meeting for Environmental Impact Statement on Maglev. 
3:30 - 7:30 PM.  Odenton Volunteer Fire Department, 1425 Annapolis Rd.,
Odenton.  A meeting to solicit public input into the development of an
Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy
Act for the Baltimore-Washington Maglev project.  More information
available at www.bwmaglev.com, or by contacting Diane Ratcliff, MTA, at
dratcliff@mdot.state.md.us.

September 28
*Close of Public Comment Period on 2001 Baltimore Regional
Transportation Plan.  Comments should be sent to J. Craig Forrest,
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224, or email Regina Aris, Baltimore
Metropolitan Council, at raris@baltometro.org.

September 30
*Baltimore County Quality Community Survey, 2:00 to 6:00 PM
(registration begins at 1:30), Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, 245 Shawan Rd,
Hunt Valley.  All residents of Baltimore County are invited to attend
and express views on non-rural residential development. Event will
feature community design consultant Tony Nelessen of A. Nelessen
Associates.  Free, but space is limited.  For reservations contact Becky
Hart at (410) 887-3495 or rhart@co.ba..md.us.

October 23
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board monthly meeting, 9:00 AM,
Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston St. in Canton,
directly above Blockbuster Video).  Designees of local elected officials
are expected to approve the 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation Plan
at this meeting. For more information contact Joan Gorsuch, BMC, at
jgorsuch@baltometro.org.

*4th Annual Maryland Conference on Housing, Hyatt Regency, Baltimore. 
Presented by the Maryland Homebuilders, and including a Maryland
Department on Housing and Community Development Awards Luncheon.  $55
registration fee includes conference, luncheon, awards program, and
reception.  For information or to register, contact Cathy Lysaught,
Maryland Homebuilders, at cathy@homebuilders.org.

October 26-27
*Summit V The Economics of Place, Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, Tawes Building Cafeteria.  Summit V is the start of a
dedicated process toward dramatic change in land use patterns.  Effort
seeks to can save rural land and money increase property values, and
establish settlement patterns that work for people and the environment. 
Key participants include David Morris, Ed Risse, and Michael Shuman. 
Cost: $45 includes Friday Dinner, Saturday lunch and coffee breaks.
Space is limited.  To register or for more information contact Anne
Pearson, Alliance for Sustainable Communities, at 410-956-1002 or
aplace@toad.net.

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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.

Has this newsletter been forwarded to you, and you would like to receive
it yourself?  Email Dan Pontious at danp@balto-region-partners.org to
sign up.

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 Ryun Papson at ryun@balto-region-partners.org. 
Visit the Baltimore Regional Partnership website at:
www.balto-region-partners.org.