Garrett County Comprehensive Development Plan

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Garrett CountyComprehensive Development Plan

• Public Meeting June 26, 2006

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The Comprehensive Development Plan

• Public statement of the Countys land use,
  growth, and development policies and actions
• Document is widely used and referred to
• Federal, state, and county agencies
• Bond rating agencies
• Incorporated towns
• Planning Commission
• Board of Appeals
• Towns develop their own Comprehensive Plans
• Plan Horizon 2025

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Organization
Garrett County County Commissioners Planning
Commission Planning and Land Development Office
Clive Graham, AICP Project Manager, ERM
ERM Planning and Design Ben Sussman, AICPPaul
West, RLA Casey Callahan Environmental Jason
Willey Deep Creek Lake Modeling Ed Buchak Mike
Fichera
Whitman-Requardt and Associates Dennis Hasson,
P.E. Transportation Christine Wells, AICP Water
and Sewer Laura Rice, P.E. Monika Blassino, P.E.
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ERM

• Founded in 1977
• Over 2,400 staff in 37 countries
• Annapolis office opened in 1984
• Planning, engineering, and environmental science
• Comprehensive Plans, Master Plans, Natural
  resource planning
• Familiar with Garrett County
• Specialized Water Modeling Group

Whitman-Requardt

• Founded in 1915
• Nationally known engineering, transportation, and
  planning firm
• Providing wastewater engineering services to
  Garrett County

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Comprehensive Plans in Maryland

• Required by the State every six years (Article
  66B)
• Some required elements but no set format. Plans
  vary in style and substance
• Must be consistent with eight visions (1992
  Planning Act as amended) and 1997 Planning Act
  Smart Growth

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Marylands Eight Visions

• Development is concentrated in suitable areas
• Sensitive areas are protected
• In rural areas, growth is directed to existing
  population centers
• Stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and the land is
  a universal ethic
• Conservation of resources, including a reduction
  in resource consumption, is practiced.
• Economic growth is encouraged and regulatory
  mechanisms are streamlined
• Adequate public facilities and infrastructure are
  available or planned
• Funding mechanisms are addressed to achieve the
  visions.

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Comprehensive Plan Required Elements

• Goals Objectives
• Land use
• Transportation
• Mineral Resources
• Environmentally sensitive areas(wetlands,
  floodplains, steep slopes, agriculture, streams
  and buffers, threatened/endangered species
  habitats)
• Water Resources
• Community facilities(water and sewer, schools,
  fire, EMS, health)

New or substantially revised requirements by MD
General Assembly in 2006
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Garrett County Other Plan Elements

• Economic Development
• Employment
• Agricultural policies
• Housing
• Aesthetics
• Deep Creek Lake Watershed Master Plan
• Coordination with towns
• Municipal Growth Element

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Deep Creek Lake Watershed Area Master Plan
Purpose Guide the type, location, and design of
future growth and development. Recommended by
2004 Deep Creek Lake Watershed Study

• Will address Deep Creek Lake Influenced Area
• Build-Out Analysis (Maryland Department of
  Planning assistance)
• Analyses
• Water Quality
• Traffic and Transportation
• Water and Sewer
• Vision and Development Plan
• Land Use
• Scenic Protection
• Improvement Plans for McHenry and Thayerville
• Infrastructure
• Community Facilities

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Schedule
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Public Involvement

• Public Kickoff MeetingTonight SIGN IN!!
• Planning Commission MeetingsFall 2006/Winter
  2007
• McHenry CharretteSpring 2007
• Special Deep Creek Watershed Public
  MeetingSummer 2007
• Public Hearings2008
• Meetings and interviews with agencies and
  interest groups
• Written and e-mail comments at any time
• Web Site http//www.garrettcounty.org/pandz/pzlmai
  n.htm

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Questions and Comments

• Considering land use, growth, and development
  in Garrett County
• What issues do you think should be addressed in
  the Comprehensive Development Plan?
• What changes would you like to see for Garrett
  County in the next 20 years?
• What policies should the County consider to
  achieve these changes?

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Information and Comments John Nelson Director,
Garrett County Planning and Land Development
Office Phone [phone] E-mail
johnn_at_garrettcounty.org Project updates on the
web at http//www.garrettcounty.org/pandz/pzlmain
.htm
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