The following is a prepared text of Harford County Executive Barry Glassman's June 7 testimony before the County Council on HarfordNext:
Mr. President, members of the Council, it is a pleasure for me to be with you this evening to introduce the formal legislation adopting the HarfordNext Master Plan.
Before I begin, I would like to thank my Director of Planning & Zoning Brad Killian, Deputy Director Jenny King and all of my planning staff and support personnel who have been involved in this process. I did ask them to produce this document to get the County back on its proper planning timeframe.
Let me set policy aside for a second and recognize the outstanding format and design of this document. I have received several compliments around the state in reference to the concise, plain English and graphic format of this proposal. I would also quote the Maryland Department of Planning which, "commended the County for its development of HarfordNext," they went on to say that " HarfordNext achieves the goal of establishing a vision of Harford County and a goal of being accessible and easily understood, the supporting data is graphically presented in a reader friendly manner and visually effective and captivating."
The department went on to commend my staff for expanding the priority preservation area to 110,000 acres and raising our land preservation goals from 50,000 to 75,000 acres. We have received similar positive reviews from the MTA, the Maryland Historical Trust, Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Transportation.
In addition to its ground breaking format, the process for HarfordNext through our digital framework and public information has been the most transparent and participatory in the history of the County.
And as you can imagine the views on land use in Harford County run the gamut, and many of these views are given with passion and with logic. They of course range from do nothing and add no growth, all the way to the envelope needs to expand by thousands of acres.
My task was to find the balance between these two competing factions. Based upon our current roadway congestion and other stresses on infrastructure, I am presenting a master plan that has the lowest percentage of increase to the development envelope in the history of Harford County at 0.31 percent and 173 acres. This is the smallest increase in the development envelope since its establishment in 1977 while at the same time it adds 43,000 acres to the county priority preservation area. The three adjustments that comprise this expansion are:
* A residential piece in the Creswell area that has existing sewer facilities on the property and either will be developed on well and septic with 16 homes, or on a low intensity residential basis with the environmental benefits of public water and sewer.
* The second is in the Fallston area and is also classified as low intensity which will allow us to release an RFP to complete a capital cost estimate to solve lingering failing septic issues in that area of the county as the County Council requested in legislation in the fall.
*The third area is in the Forest Hill area, 35 acres to an intersection that already has commercial activity on two corners and just makes planning sense to be included in water and sewer instead of septics under its current RR designation and development plan adjacent to the existing village center.
So despite all of the spin otherwise, the fact remains, it is the smallest expansion of the envelope in the county's history.
Let me also speak for a second about the study area that is designated in HarfordNext.
As you know this area does not expand the development envelope and any expansion for water and sewer addition to the development envelope would have to come before the County Council for full public hearings and the legislative process. This area is currently under development pressure and some projects are already moving forward. We had requests from land owners in the area to include over two thousand acres, but decided not to expand.
For the first time, we should look at an area and do our planning by proactively accessing the impacts of current and potential growth outside of the development envelope. By doing this we can include a strategic comprehensive infrastructure plan that addresses current traffic issues and all of the other community facilities that are impacted by growth currently and in the future. This area is already experiencing growth and sprawl in a hodgepodge manner. I would only ask you to take a look at the southern Route 152 corridor below Route 1 to see what happens when this is allowed to occur without a comprehensive planning strategy.
My hope is, in addition to studying current facilities and areas in this corridor, to also adjust our ag preservation priorities so that we can direct funds into this area to create greenways, and a trail system as part of our green infrastructure included in this master plan. We have adopted our transportation priorities, which include funding for the Schucks Road intersection and our ongoing traffic issues on state routes 22 and 543, both of which are included in our transportation priorities for state capital funding improvements.
My hope was that for once we will finally do it right and plan for the future and not simply expand the envelope when we want to add large areas of acreages and then worry about public facilities, trails, schools, and open space. I know there is a good deal of distrust regarding the study area being equated to an expansion of the envelope. The data and study will be completed by our planning professionals not some independent study group. I repeat, the study area by no means expands the envelope in law or policy. I would urge you to dismiss those fears and take up the mantel to plan beyond your time.
I used the bulk of my time to address these issues which have consumed probably 90 percent of our discussions, but I would point out that the document contains a great vision in the areas of environmental stewardship, preserving our heritage, mobility and connectivity, and promoting healthy communities. Together it really does create a forward looking plan that lays out our policy and goals in a flexible framework which will allow the county to encourage economic growth while enhancing our quality of place.
Now I have served most of my time in public service as a legislator so I respect the fact that it is now your turn to take a look at the document and put your handprint to it. I think that we have found the appropriate middle ground to move forward between those that want us to do nothing and those who want a great deal of expansion. My job was to find that middle ground while also moving the county forward and creating an economic environment where we send a message that we are indeed interested in creating a vibrant prosperous county for all our families and improving our quality of place.
Remember, this is at least a 10-year planning document, some of it may come to fruition beyond our time, but simply staying the same is not an option if we are to continue to move forward. Please be judicious and separate the facts from the misinformation. Remember, the plan is supposed to be visionary and flexible without being layered with specific details and agendas.