Aberdeen Proving Ground supports more than 20,000 jobs and has a $4.3 billion economic impact, according to economic leaders, that area business and government officials are trying to not only protect, but also enhance. To that end, there's an ongoing study of how the post's future can best be integrated into the region.
"We have seen across the nation an undervaluation of the economic impact to a community," Mike Hrapla, project manager with the group doing the study, said at a public information session Wednesday night. "Sometimes that military contribution is masked."
A handful of community leaders gave their input on Aberdeen Proving Ground's Joint Land Use Study, as the company contracted to do the study continues getting feedback from the public on the open-ended project.
The study is being coordinated by the Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor, and is neither binding nor enforceable. It is meant solely to be used as a plan for life and development around the post.
The Matrix Design Group introduced the project in September, when the first public workshop was held at Aberdeen's University Center to explain the study and have participants answer survey questions on everything from their concern about safety at the proving ground to their personal backgrounds.
At Wednesday's workshops, participants were asked to use stickers to show their priorities for various "compatibility issues," such as air quality, safety, energy development, cultural resources and roadway capacity.
Some of the highest-prioritized issues at the end of the meeting included coordination between APG and the local jurisdictions, communication from APG, the Harford Metropolitan Area Network and most aspects of road capacity, such as peak hour traffic, public transportation connections and increased APG commuter traffic. Water quantity or quality at Edgewood, as well as water supply at the Edgewood and Aberdeen areas, were also high priorities.
Wednesday's workshop, held again at the University Center, drew about a dozen people. The CSSC also planned to hold workshops in Cecil and Kent counties Thursday evening.
The goal of JLUS, according to its organizers, is "to protect the viability of current and future missions at APG, while accommodating community growth, sustaining the economic health of the region and protecting public health and safety."
Denise Carnaggio, BRAC coordinator for the CSSC, called the JLUS process "a win-win" because all of Harford's communities and stakeholders are working together on it.
More than 1,200 such studies have been performed by the Department of Defense nationwide since 1985.
Hrapla said the company will produce a background report and a JLUS report, or a briefer version with technical information, after soliciting feedback.
The next public session for the project is set for August.
One resident, Alan Sweatman, wondered about the low turnout at the meeting and worried that the JLUS leaders would only get a small sample, affecting the validity of the process.
Hrapla replied that his company tries to infer general opinion from the workshops but never says that the results, or the feedback received, represent all of public opinion, only that of participants.
More information is available at apgjlus.com.