BALTIMORE, MD (September 24, 2012) -  The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) today presented Governor O'Malley with a report on the process and progress of PlanMaryland, the state's first plan for sustainable growth.

The report follows a nine-month review of how state government programs and policies align with smart growth and the "planning visions" laid out by the General Assembly in the Smart, Green and Growing legislation of 2009. Governor O'Malley accepted PlanMaryland in December 2011.  

Since then, 15 agencies that make up the Governor's Smart Growth Subcabinet have reviewed their programs and proposed more than 90 conceptual strategies to more effectively focus new growth in existing communities, reduce spending on new infrastructure and conserve natural resources. The strategies will be refined during the coming months with additional public input. State agencies have worked with local governments to identify areas to promote growth and protect valued resources. MDP developed an interactive mapping tool at Plan.Maryland.gov to assist that process.

The Sustainable Growth Commission, whose members represent business, agriculture, environmental advocacy, academia and state and local governments throughout Maryland, has served as counsel to the subcabinet and its agencies on the implementation of PlanMaryland.

"Collaboration at the state and local level has been a cornerstone of PlanMaryland's implementation," said Richard Eberhart Hall, secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning. "My agency has facilitated more than 40 meetings with more than 70 jurisdictions and 10 stakeholder organizations to discuss the guidelines and mapping for the plan during the past year. And subcabinet agencies have participated in more than 50 work sessions to develop possible implementation strategies."