WHERE AS we are:

-a county rich in farms and rural towns connected by creeks and river.

-a county that values its small town traditions, cultural diversity, and connection to the land and water.

-a county that views our farms as critical resources and supports our water industries.

-a county that seeks to maintain and improve our economic stability by encouraging local businesses who provide jobs for our residents.

-a county that seeks to build communities that we can sustain and support.
 
 

NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the County Commissioners ask the Planning Commission to revise Title 18, prepare growth tools, and surgically amend any documents where necessary to achieve the following guidance:
 

PLANNING WITH VISION:

-development should be concentrated in suitable areas where we minimize any negative impacts on  current residential communities.  Large-scale development in sensitive areas should be avoided.  Sensitive areas are those where the health, safety and welfare of our citizens are endangered and  general congestion degrades our quality of life.

-we need to establish Planning Areas within which no incompatible development occurs.(Please see the Sudlersville Comprehensive Plan as a model)

-we wish to incorporate green infrastructure in all of our communities to support ecological functions.

-we do not want to look like “ANYPLACE USA”.

-we will encourage mixed use developments and discourage a series of disconnected single-use developments.

-in rural areas, we will need to limit sprawl and growth in linear patterns.

-we wish to plan for affordable housing opportunities in the county by promoting flexible zoning, zoning incentives , and density bonuses .

-we wish to practice good stewardship of our land, streams, rivers, and  the Chesapeake Bay.

-economic growth is encouraged with Chesapeake College as an integral partner.
 

INTEGRATED PLANNING:

-we wish to ensure inter-jurisdictional planning  with our municipalities to foster a coordinated countywide land use plan.

-we wish to establish mutually agreed-upon Urban-Rural Demarcation Boundaries
that encompass land suitable for both municipal and county growth around all municipalities and growth areas.

-we will work together to protect rural resources beyond a U-RDB, which affect the environment, setting, character and economies of our municipalities.

-the municipalities shall establish agreements with the county regarding the phasing and funding of growth and infrastructure investments consistent with Land Use Plans and the U-RDA.

-we will plan the location of schools, other community facilities and community services within the U-RDA.

-we want to establish formal mechanisms to communicate our development responsibilities.

-we need to come to terms with a total level of acceptable residential and commercial growth within our county as a whole.
 

ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

-we need to encourage increased public participation in planning issues.  We should find ways to inform the public to a greater level then the mere legal notice requirements of actions as they relate to developments and other planning issues.

-we will coordinate and attend public workshops and proceedings in which municipalities shall participate in land use and transportation planning and decision making in order to further policies and the adherence to a U-RDA. 

-information sessions and public input will be scheduled in a timely manner.

-all input will be considered before final plans are implemented.

-public review fees should be fairly set to reasonable levels.
 

CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION:

-we need to  improve our standards for buffers, piers, forest retention/afforestation and habitat protection.

-we will define and protect our scenic vistas.

-we need to produce guidelines consistent with the policy guidance of this resolution for critical area growth allocation.

-we request a review of legislation creating a critical farm program.
 

GROWTH MANAGEMENT:
 

-we request that all growth management tools be coordinated with the development
responsibilities of all municipalities.

-we will protect sensitive areas and rural resources beyond  a U-RDA.  Of  primary importance for protection are farm and forestland along entrance corridors of towns.

-we will protect rural character, support agriculture and minimize forest loss beyond a U-RDA.

-we will discourage a municipality from extending public facilities or provide services beyond the confines of the U-RDA.

-we request that, as an overall objective, we use the 424 allocated permits of your January 31, 2003 memo as a sum total for all county permits including municipalities.

-we request  growth tools that will ensure the survival of our small builders and their contribution to our local economy.

-we request the Planning Commission evaluate controlling subdivision issuance with the permit issuance so that we can with predictability and efficiency operate the department of planning and zoning. 

-we request a review of  “big box” legislation.

-we request a comprehensive study and review of the appropriateness and application of transfer development rights.

-we would like to discourage rubble landfills.

-we need to postpone zoning changes in the Queenstown growth area, holding open the comprehensive rezoning cycle for this area pending deliberations of a new citizens advisory committee and reconsideration of the growth area plan by the planning commission.

-we request that while we review the Stevensville and Chester Master Plans, that no new developments of 50 or more  buildable lots be created on Kent Island.
 

OUR RURAL TOWNS AND VILLAGES:
 
 

t is apparent that most of our current towns and villages were planned as linear developments that do not lend themselves to increased population.  More population, with increased traffic on current roadways, risks the safety and welfare of current and future citizens.

As we look at our county, we find that our rural cultural landscape is mainly characterized by compact, visually identifiable villages and hamlets situated amidst working farms and features of natural beauty. 

We should encourage the development of new, compact villages  with definable business  centers and a range of available housing. 

Linear grids should be avoided and matrix grids with open space and multiple traffic patterns should be encouraged.
 

          AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we desire to prevent unacceptable burdens in terms of water, air, light, and noise pollution, traffic congestion, and other injuries to quality of life that we have now  begun to witness. 

We also request that the Planning Commission accept a County Commissioner as a liaison during this period of revision.