Land Use/Managed Growth

Issue:
Maryland has two regions identified as the second-most and the ninth-most threatened farming regions by an American Farmland Trust report. The Maryland Office of Planning predicts that if current trends continue, 500,000 more acres of open land will be lost to development over the next 25 years (Bay Journal 1997).

Actions:

Developed a multi-disciplinary research effort in the Patuxent watershed to analyze the evolution of land-use change to determine how policy mechanisms, land-use controls, nonpoint source pollution regulations, wetland permitting and transportation affect farmland loss and residential development patterns.
Developed farmland owner workshops on tax issues related to agricultural land preservation
Establishment of the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education Center; National and Smart Growth Leadership Programs.

Impacts:

Additional funding granted for Farmland Protection under the 2002 Farm Bill.
Increased citizen and farmer involvement in the development of comprehensive plans.
Legislation introduced in Maryland House to grant tax-free easement payments.
Assessment of important agricultural lands needing protection improved.

For more information, contact Dr Nick Place

Last updated: 11/13/2009