Background

Members of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission

• Jon Laria, Chair, Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP.
• Vacant, Vice Chair
• Rudolph C. Cane, House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee
• Stephen W. Lafferty, House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee
• Joan Carter Conway, Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
• J.B. Jennings, Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee
• Secretary Richard Eberhart Hall, Maryland Department of Planning
• David Costello, Secretary's designee, Maryland Department of the Environment
• Don Halligan, Secretary's designee, Maryland Department of Transportation
• Secretary Raymond Skinner, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
• David Goshorn, Secretary's designee, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Ursula Powidzki, Secretary's designee, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
• Secretary Earl Hance, Maryland Department of Agriculture
• David Lever, Superintendent's designee, Maryland State Department of Education
• Charlotte Lawson Davis, the Rural Maryland Council's designee
• Gerrit Knaap, Director, University of Maryland National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education
• David Carey, Town of Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners
• Karl Brendle, Director, City of Laurel Department of Development Management
• Sandy Coyman, Director, Talbot County Department of Comprehensive Planning
• Mary Ann Lisanti, Harford County Council
• Yates Clagett, Representative of the Agricultural Community
• Dru Schmidt-Perkins, Executive Director, 1000 Friends of Maryland
• Frank Hertsch, Principal, Morris & Ritchie Associates
• Robb Merritt, President, Merritt Properties
• Alan Girard, Senior Land Use Policy Manager, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Kelly Cartales, Vice President and Impact Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
• Cheryl Cort, Policy Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth
• Duane Yoder, CEO of the Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc.
• Greg Bowen, Southern Maryland Represenative
• Vacant, Washington Area Metro Representative
• Derick Berlage, Chief of Countywide Planning, Prince Georges County
• Vacant, Washington Area Metro Representative
• Calvin Ball, Howard County Council
• Bryce Turner, President, Brown, Craig and Turner
• Russ Brinsfield, Ph. D., Mayor, Town of Vienna

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Structure and Responsibilities

The Commission maintains the current membership of the Task Force and adds the following representatives:

• Four new state agency representatives – the Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Business and Economic Development and Natural Resources and the Maryland State Department of Education;
• Two new stakeholder organization representatives – the environmental community and the commercial building and development industry; and
• Nine new regional representatives – 1 from Western Maryland, 1 from Southern Maryland, 1 from the Eastern Shore, 3 from the Washington Metropolitan area and 3 from the Baltimore Metropolitan area.

Appointed commission members will serve 5-year terms and the commission will sunset in 2020.

Charge to the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission Pursuant to § 5-706 of the State Finance and Procurement Article

The Commission shall:

1. Assess and advise on the progress of State, regional, and local planning in Maryland in achieving the goals of the State economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy, as defined in § 5 7a-01 of this title;
2. Make recommendations on the adequacy, coordination, and implementation of funding mechanisms and other State assistance for planning activities and infrastructure and land preservation needs, consistent with the State economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy;
3. Promote planning coordination and interjurisdictional cooperation among the State and local jurisdictions and recommend mechanisms to facilitate voluntary joint planning;
4. Advise on the content and preparation of the State development plan, State transportation plan, and State housing plan and the implementation of these plans, including the relationship of these plans with local land use plans;
5. Promote and make recommendations regarding efficient and predictable model State and local development regulations to achieve the goals of the State economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy;
6. Evaluate the continuing viability and effectiveness of the State and local government smart growth indicators contained in Land Use Article, § 3.10 of the Code, and make recommendations for amendments or additions to the indicators;
7. Review the reports of local jurisdictions on adequate public facilities development restrictions required by Land Use Article, § 10.01 of the Code, and assess whether and to what extent adequate public facilities ordinances affect the achievement of the goals of the State economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy;
8. Develop and assist in the implementation of educational and outreach programs about smart growth;
9. Review periodically the educational requirements for members of planning boards and Commissions and boards of appeals required by Land Use Article, §§ 3.02 and 4.07 of the Code, and evaluate compliance rates for the members;
10. Make recommendations for changes in State law, regulations, policies, and procedures, if any, that the Commission believes are necessary to achieve the State's economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy; and
11. Serve as an advisory board to the Governor's Smart Growth Subcabinet, providing advice and guidance.

On or before December 1 of each year, the Commission shall report, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, on its activities and recommendations to the Speaker of the House; the President of the Senate; the House Environmental Matters Committee; the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee; and the Governor.

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Sustainable
Growth
Challenge