1992 Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act

The 1992 Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act articulates the State's growth policy through seven visions (the General Assembly added an eighth vision in 2000) centered on concentrating development in suitable areas, protecting sensitive areas, and establishing funding mechanisms to achieve the visions. The Act also requires local jurisdictions to address these same visions in their comprehensive plans. All local jurisdictions,s with few exceptions, incorporated these visions into their comprehensive plans on or before July 1, 1997. Under the Act, local governments are required to review, and if necessary, update their plans once every six years.

These are the eight visions from the 1992 Planning Act.

• Development is concentrated in suitable areas.
• Sensitive areas are protected.
• In rural areas, growth is directed to existing population centers and resource areas are protected.
• Stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and the land is a universal ethic.
• Conservation of resources, including a reduction in resource consumption, is practiced.
• To assure the achievement of items (1) through (5) of this section, economic growth is encouraged and regulatory mechanisms are streamlined.
• Adequate public facilities and infrastructure under the control of the county or municipal corporation are available or planned in areas where growth is to occur.
• Funding mechanisms are addressed to achieve these Visions.

The Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning policy is codified in §5-7A-01 of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code. The visions are codified in §3.06(b) of Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.