Smart Growth Legislation

In 1997, the State of Maryland enacted “Smart Growth” legislation. Whereas the 1992 Planning Act was intended to encourage growth management and the protection of resources at the local government level, the Smart Growth legislation gives the State programmatic and fiscal authority to require local jurisdictions to implement “smart growth” planning. State fiscal support is provided to areas planned for development and to those already developed.

The centerpiece of the Smart Growth legislative package is the “Priority Funding Areas” law. This law reflects Maryland’s effort to use State funding to direct growth and development within geographic areas that meet specific State criteria.

Local jurisdictions certify these mapped areas as Priority Funding Areas (PFA’s) with the State for targeting State investment in infrastructure. The law generally restricts the use of State funding for roads, water and sewer plants, economic development and other growth-related needs to PFA’s.

In 2002 the County adopted a new county-wide Plan that conforms to the 1992 Planning Act and the Smart Growth Legislation of 1997.

The 2002 Queen Anne’s Comprehensive Plan addressed two themes: encouraging and directing growth into the existing communities and growth areas (Kent Narrows, Chester, Stevensville, Grasonville, Queenstown, and Centreville) and the continued effort to preserve agricultural lands.

A residential buildout analysis completed with the 2002 Plan based on vacant land inventory resulted in a theoretical maximum of 39,000 additional dwelling units for the entire county, with 20,000 dwellings located within the designated growth areas and 19,000 dwelling units in the non-growth areas.

Recognizing the impact of sensitive areas, natural resources and other site conditions, probable maximums of 50% to 75% of the theoretical total were also calculated, providing a more realistic residential buildout forecast of 20,000 to 30,000 additional dwelling units for the county.

A buildout analysis should be contemplated in the context of time. Historic building permit data indicates an average of 400 permits per calendar year. At that rate, it would take 97.5 years to buildout. However, if the more recent 200 permits per year rate were considered, it would take 195 years.

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