BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
September 7, 2001
_____________________________
Contents (web links corrected from 9/4/01 newsletter):
*Carroll Meeting with State Official Postponed
*Harford Residents, Officials Look at Penninsula's Future
*Job Opening: Partnership Seeks Organizer
*Calendar of Events
_______________________________________
CARROLL MEETING WITH STATE OFFICIAL POSTPONED
The proposed Sept. 6 meeting between the Carroll County commissioners and
Maryland environment secretary Jane Nishida, was postponed in favor of
preliminary staff-level discussions. 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.
_______________________________
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
Harford County's Perryman peninsula. Groundwork for the process was
laid when Maryland highway agencies said they could not afford
infrastructure needed to serve the warehouse development currently
planned for the peninsula, but agreed to fund a community planning
process to explore more sustainable development ideas. 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, with some
residents favoring maintaining most of the area as agriculture and
others favoring varying degrees of economic development. Nelessen will
work to synthesize these plans and come back to the group October 11
with a proposed master plan for the area. (See Calendar of Events.)
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.
________________________________
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.
________________________________
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.
*TRANSPORTATION BOARD MEETING POSTPONED
Due to today's tragic events, the meeting of the region's local elected
officials as the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board originally
scheduled for 5:30 this evening has been postponed. New information
will be posted at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council website,
www.baltometro.org. Click on
"Calendar of Events."
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.
*JONES FALLS FESTIVAL CANCELLED
The Jones Falls Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday,
September 15 and 16, has been cancelled due to this week's tragedy. For
more information, and to watch for possible rescheduling, visit
www.jonesfalls.com.
September 20
*Public Scoping Meeting for Environmental Impact Statement on Maglev.
3:30 - 7:30 PM. Resurrection 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 11
*Perryman Peninsula Planning Process, 6:30 PM, Aberdeen Middle School,
Mt. Royal Avenue, Aberdeen. Presentation of results from three planning
meetings. For more information, contact Joe Kocy, Director, Harford
County Department of Planning and Zoning, at jkocy@co.ha.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.
________________________________
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.
