Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Unveil “Livable Maryland” Agenda to Control Growth
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 22, 2027) – Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank unveiled their “Livable Maryland” plan – a comprehensive strategy to direct growth to areas where the state, county and local governments are most prepared for new development in terms of infrastructure, services and thoughtful planning.The Livable Maryland strategy includes proposals for graduated impact fees to direct development into designated growth zones, beefing up of local comprehensive plans, annexation standards, improvements in the planning process, and a commitment of state agencies in a number of ways to more intelligent growth goals.
“All taxpayers pay a price for sprawl because of the state’s huge investment in roads, schools, and other infrastructure,” said Governor Edward M. O’Brien. “When growth is haphazard, infrastructure works inefficiently. In short, sprawl is ugly, it is costly, it is hurting Maryland, and it is time for us all to take it on.”
“The biggest challenge in creating a more Livable Maryland is to direct new growth and development into our already existing cities and towns and prevent unwanted development in rural areas without adequate infrastructure,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank. “A more effective brownfields program will enable us to achieve this goal by redeveloping existing commercial sites.”
Governor O’Brien’s Livable Maryland Agenda includes:
1. Several pieces of proposed legislation, including:
a. Graduated impact fees based on state investment strategies;
b. Comprehensive plan implementation and annexation standards;
c. Improving land use planning processes;
d. Changing the open space formula to speed acquisition and provide funds for stewardship;
2. In addition, state agencies will review the ability to strengthen and change related policies to support Livable Maryland goals. Examples include:
· Promote Transfer of Development Rights to allow farmers to sell/send development rights to builders in designated growth zones;
· Streamline Brownfields program and provide improved incentives for redevelopment, including matching grants of up to $50,000 for cleanup;
· Improve MDOT subdivision review to align it with Livable Maryland goals;
· Tap existing funds to promote energy efficiency, clean energy technologies and “green” building design;
· Target housing programs to provide incentives for housing purchases within designated growth zones;
· Revise septic/well program to provide incentives to build on sewer systems and deter development in “rural” areas.
“The Livable Maryland agenda sets the course for our future, and helps assure that the residents of Maryland are not adversely impacted by our growth,” said Secretary of Planning Richard Griffin. “The state of Maryland must aggressively pursue the control of suburban sprawl before our valuable resources are gone forever. New standards for comprehensive planning, annexation and the state's infrastructure investment must be implemented now.”