Comprehensive Plan 2022

Bel Air MD

08 February, 2022

12:49 PM

Description

Press release from the Town of Bel Air: Posted on: February 7, 2022 Posted on: February 7, 2022 Comprehensive Plan 2022 Town of Bel Air Comprehensive Plan 2022 Chapter I Introduction A. Purpose The Town of Bel Air Comprehensive Plan provides an opportunity to set priorities for land use and public services by adopting goals and objectives to guide Town decisions concerning development, financing, public improvements, and regulatory needs. The Plan outlines how the Town will use resources for public investment and apply land development controls. B. Participation This update of the existing 2016 Comprehensive Plan was developed with extensive public participation and involvement. The update was initiated with a series of four (4) stakeholder group meetings addressing various elements of the Comprehensive Plan. These groups included residents, business owners, plus State, County, and local representatives. Public input was solicited to acquire a broader point of view and verify feedback received throughout the preceding years. The Planning Commission analyzed a summary of the minutes from these meetings and provided additional input regarding each element. Planning Staff worked with various data sources, such as the 2020 census, to assemble technical driven information. Additionally, an online portal was created to gather comments and suggestions for potential changes to the Plan. Two public meetings were held to seek comments on the draft plan. Afterward, the Planning Commission and the Town Board of Commissioners each held a separate public hearing in order to verify the final draft prior to adoption. C. Establishment The Land Use Article in the Annotated Code of Maryland provides broad planning and zoning enabling legislation to counties and municipalities. Section 3-101 of the Land Use Article tasks the Planning Commission to develop a Comprehensive Plan and then forward that Plan to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. The Plan is a policy guide for both groups as they assess the location, character, and extent of proposed public and private development within Bel Air. The goals and objectives of each plan element are implemented over time through decisions related to annexation, rezoning, and subdivision of land, as well as the location and construction of public improvements. The Planning Commission utilizes the Comprehensive Plan as it reviews all proposed development plans to determine conformance with outlined policy. The Land Use Article was amended to require that all Comprehensive Plans be updated every ten (10) years with a five (5) year review to assure conformity. The Plan is scheduled for the next update in 2031 to coincide with the release of US Census Bureau data. Elements which are required for inclusion are Land Use, Municipal Growth, Transportation, Community Facilities, Water Resources, Sensitive Areas, areas of critical State concern, Housing, and Land Development Regulations. All elements will include Goals and Objectives to assist in setting policy. Bel Air also includes Economic Development and Historic Preservation elements in addition to those required by the State. D. Application The Comprehensive Plan is used as a guide for all land use and development decisions within the Town and will address public actions as well as policy review. The Comprehensive Plan is organized into ten (10) chapters which follow this introduction. II. Sensitive Areas Element III. Historic Preservation Element IV. Community Facilities Element V. Water Resources Element VI. Transportation Element VII. Housing Element VIII. Economic Development Element IX. Land Use Element X. Municipal Growth Element XI. Land Development Regulations Element E. Visions State law requires that each jurisdiction implement certain visions through the Comprehensive Plan that provide a foundation for planning and policy decisions. These visions are outlined below: 1. Quality of Life and Sustainability: a high quality of life is achieved through universal stewardship of the land, water and air resulting in sustainable communities and protection of the environment. 2. Public Participation: citizens are active partners in the planning and implementation of community initiatives and are sensitive to their responsibilities in achieving community goals. 3. Growth Areas: growth is concentrated in existing population and business centers, growth areas adjacent to these centers, or strategically selected new centers. 4. Community Design: compact, mixed-use, walkable design consistent with existing community character and located near available or planned transit options is encouraged to ensure efficient use of land and transportation resources and preservation and enhancement of natural systems, open spaces, recreational areas, and historical, cultural, and archeological resources. 5. Infrastructure: growth areas have the water resources and infrastructure to accommodate population and business expansion in an orderly, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner. 6. Transportation: a well-maintained, multimodal transportation system facilitates the safe, convenient, affordable, and efficient movement of people, goods, and services within and between population and business centers. 7. Housing: a range of housing densities, types, and sizes provides affordable and diverse residential options for citizens of all ages and incomes. 8. Economic Development: economic development and natural resource-based businesses that promote employment opportunities for all income levels within the capacity of the existing natural resources, public services, and public facilities are encouraged. 9. Environmental Protection: land and water resources, including the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays, are carefully managed to restore and maintain healthy air, water, natural systems, and living resources. 10. Resource Conservation: waterways, forests, agricultural areas, open spaces, natural systems, and scenic areas are conserved. 11. Stewardship: government, business entities, and residents are responsible for the creation of sustainable communities by collaborating to balance efficient growth and resource protection. 12. Implementation: strategies, policies, programs, and funding of growth and development, resource conservation, infrastructure, and transportation are integrated across the local, regional, State, and interstate levels to achieve these visions. The State visions as well as the HarfordNEXT County Master Plan are used as a foundation to develop policies, goals, and objectives for the various elements. The Town also includes a vision statement for each element based on the desired character as determined by local citizens. Additional information is available on the Town of Bel Air Planning Department Comprehensive Planning webpage. Contact: Town of Bel Air Planning Department, 705 E. Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21014 - Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (410) 638-4540 Additional Info... This press release was produced by the Town of Bel Air. The views expressed here are the author's own.