Can Maryland Curb the Red Dots?
What’s the state of Maryland’s Jerseyfication? I pulled these two great images off of a Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) document called “Growth and Land Use Trends.” They both foresee Maryland’s population reaching 6.7 million people by 2030 – or an increase of roughly 1 million people over the next 20 years. The two images represent the weighty choices the state has to make over the next few years if it hopes avert the unprecedented rates of sprawl predicted by experts. The first image shows the extent of development if existing local and state laws and policies remain unchanged. The second shows a smart growth scenario where local zoning becomes more closely tied to where the state and counties have agreed to prioritize development (Priority Funding Areas). The result of such an expanded smart growth program, MDP predicts, would be approximately 500,000 fewer acres developed over the next 20 years. That acreage represents 8% of the state’s total land area saved from development
