Latest round of statewide outreach for PlanMaryland held in May and June, 2011

8 regional open houses throughout Maryland reached more than 500 residents. MDP staff answered questions and heard comments about PlanMaryland

The Maryland Department of Planning held its eighth open house at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata on June 23, 2011 (see other locations below). These open forums were part of the next phase of public engagement for the State Growth Plan known as PlanMaryland.

"While the Southern Maryland meeting was the last of 8 scheduled open houses, our outreach to the public is far from over," said MDP Secretary Richard Hall. "The 120-day public review and comment period doesn't close until September 1st. We are being invited to talk about PlanMaryland at meetings all across the state."

MDP held the open houses to give Maryland residents and stakeholder organization the opportunity to speak directly to state agency staff about the draft of PlanMaryland, which was released publicly on April 28, 2011. These evening events were designed for attendees to arrive at any time during the open house and to stay as long as they wanted.

Your input and comments continue to be crucial during the 120-day review period and beyond. Click here for information on how to get your comments to MDP. You may also contact the department to in have staff present at your upcoming meetings by getting in touch with us – click for contacts.

We want to know what you think about the role of the State and local governments in accomplishing goals for growth, development, revitalization, preservation, and protection, and how limited revenues, incentives and regulations can be used in the most efficient and effective way possible to achieve these goals.

The locations and dates of the PlanMaryland Open House are listed here. Also note the green pushpins on the map below.

Lower Eastern Shore region	Salisbury University, Salisbury	May 5, 2011
Upper Eastern Shore region	Washington College, Chestertown	May 11, 2011
Central Maryland region	Long Reach High School, Columbia	May 19, 2011
Baltimore Metro region	Morgan State University, Baltimore	May 25, 2011
Western Maryland region	Frostburg State University, Frostburg	June 2, 2011
Northeast Maryland region	Harford Community College, Bel Air	June 8, 2011
Washington Metro region	University of Maryland, College Park	June 16, 2011
Sponsored by the National Center for Smart Growth Research & Education and the UM Urban Studies & Planning Program
Southern Maryland region	College of Southern Maryland, La Platas	June 23, 2011
Special forum sponsored by the BWI Business Partnership, Inc.
Four Points Sheraton Hotel, BWI Airport		June 22, 2011

 

To date, the outreach effort for PlanMaryland has reached several thousand stakeholders throughout the State to ensure that multiple viewpoints are heard and represented. The PlanMaryland process has included 9 listening sessions in 2008 and 13 public forums in the spring of 2010, all of which were held throughout the State.

 

View PlanMaryland Public Forums II: Open Houses in a larger map