Passage of the 2009 GDP

On October 19, 2009, the County Council passed the General Development Plan with over 30 amendments. Some of these amendments were required by the State of Maryland so that the plan would comply with new law. A large number of the amendments were changes in the Land Use Map for the County. The changes to the land use map are important, but do not automatically change the zoning of the property. The Comprehensive Re-zoning process begins December 1, 2009 when any property owner may request a zoning change. The Planning and Zoning Office will make recommendations to the County Council in the form of legislation, but any re-zoning may also be proposed by members of the Council up until the time the re-zoning bill is passed.

Town Hall Meeting on the Bay-Aug 11

Chesapeake Bay Town Hall Aug. 11, Annapolis

President Obama has ordered federal agencies to draft plans by Sept. 9 to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. A diverse group representing business, academic, faith, environmental and other interests will meet with a top official from the EPA to discuss specific steps the Administration must take.

WHAT: Chesapeake Bay Town Hall Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 6:30-8:00pm

WHERE: St. Philip's Episcopal Church

730 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401

WHO:

Chuck Fox, EPA Senior Advisor on the Chesapeake Bay

Dr. Don Boesch, President, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Will Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Tommy Landers, Policy Advocate, Environment Maryland

CONTACT: Tommy Landers, Environment Maryland, 410-467-0439 or Terry Cummings, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816 Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Environment Maryland-environmentmaryland.org/baytownhall

Maryland Dept of Planning to Discuss Smart Growth

1.The Maryland

Planning Directors'

Roundtable

"Convening regularly for the purpose of sharing ideas on smart and sustainable growth"

Held at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis.

Secretary of Planning Richard Hall invites all local government planning professionals to attend the Spring 2009 meeting of the Maryland Planning Directors' Roundtable on Thursday, July 23, 2009. The meeting will be held at The Banneker-Douglass Museum from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Banneker-Douglass Museum

84 Franklin Street

Annapolis, MD 21401

Thursday, July 23, 2009

9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

John Coleman

(410) 767-4614

Maryland Department of Planning

The public is welcome to audit this meeting.

Anonymous Complaints by Citizens

Last year the Anne Arundel County Council Chambers were filled with angry citizens wearing red tee shirts with the phrase"Stop the Zoning Gestapo". Many of the "red shirts" had received a notice of a violation of County law and believed that they were unfairly targeted.

Now a bill supported by this group that is also known as PROPO, will before the County Council on Monday, June 15 at 7 PM. We expect a large turn out by this group and we need to counter their arguments to keep this bill from passing.

Zoning inspectors are enforcing the law of the County and anonymous sources are widely used by all law enforcement agencies, hotlines, etc. As the Deputy County Attorney said " Why would a serious law enforcement organization cut off information?"

All complaints, with and without names and addresses, are investigated by Inspections and Permits. If unfounded, the case is closed. If there is a violation an enforcement letter is sent.

Contact your Council Representative and come to the hearing next Monday!

Enforcement in our county has been less than effective in past years. Making it less likely that citizens file complaints weakens the enforcement effort.

On July 27, 2009 the County Council voted this bill down with a vote of 7 to 1.

PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD BRIEFING

The Planning Advisory Board (PAB)will have a briefing on the General Development Plan(GDP) on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 6:30 PM at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis 21401.

There will be little opportunity for  public comment, although there may be some. Comments may be sent to the PAB following the briefing.

It is the role of the PAB, a volunteer citizens group, to advise the County Executive on the Draft GDP.

Let the PAB have your views and comments on the GDP.

New law on land annexation

Land Annexations 

A December 2005 Maryland Department of Planning report indicated that, from 1997 

through 2005, the acreage of municipal corporations in Maryland had grown by an estimated 

11%, or 27,453 acres, as a result of annexation, with the greatest percentage increases occurring 

in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.  Chapter 381 of 2006 altered State law regarding 

municipal annexation by, among other things, requiring municipalities that exercise zoning 

authority to include a municipal growth element in their comprehensive plans and for 

annexations on or after October 2009, requiring a municipal annexation plan that is consistent 

with the municipal growth element.   

Senate Bill 350/House Bill 220 (both passed) exempt proposed municipal annexations of 

parcels of land that are five acres or less, and that are part of a lot containing at least one other 

parcel that has been part of the municipal corporate area for at least three years, from the 

requirements that consent be obtained from a specified percentage of area residents and property 

owners and that the proposed annexation be subject to a referendum.  A municipal corporation, 

however, may not annex a total of more than 25 acres under the exceptions of the bills, and the 

bills do not apply to land zoned for agricultural use.  Provisions of the bills terminate 

September 30, 2011. 

Bikes for the World-Donation Event-May 16

Have a bike that you are not using? Someone in a developing county could use your bike to get to school, work and home again.

Saturday May 16, 2009  10AM  to 1PM bring your bike to 

Pedal Pushers, 546 B&A Blvd (in the shopping area with the Big Bean Coffee Shop)

A donation of $10 is needed to defray the cost of shipping overseas.

This is a project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, a 501 (c) (3) organization. For further info go to bikes for the world.org or call 1-703-525-0931