Consistent with the governor's STAT approach, Maryland jurisdictions will report on a uniform set of indicators in order to provide better information to influence sustainable planning policy decisions. The 2009 Smart, Green, and Growing Legislation requires that the Maryland Department of Planning report Smart Growth Goals, Measures and Indicators in consultation with the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Priority Funding Area Trends

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To track residential development trends in Maryland, MDP's Planning Data Services Division created a consistent geospatial database of improved single-family residential parcels of 20 acres or less from 1940 thru 2007. The database helped analyze residential development patterns inside and outside of Priority Funding Areas (PFAs) for the entire 68-year time span.

Since Smart Growth laws were implemented in 1999, Maryland has experienced no overall increase in the share of improved residential parcels located inside of PFAs. In fact, the shares of improved residential parcels inside PFAs since 1999 are some of the lowest over the last 68 years.

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Additionally, there has been no consistent reduction in the percentage of improved residential acres developed outside of PFAs since 1999. Only in overall average lot size, where there has been a slight decrease - and only during the last three years - has there been some recent sign of slowed development outside of PFAs.

69 percent of improved single-family residential parcels were inside of Priority Funding Areas in 2007.

For more detailed information:
Maryland State Data Center: Tracking Residential Growth -- Priority Funding Areas (PFAs) and Residential Single-Family Development in Maryland, 1940–2007

Development Capacity in PFAs

MDP maintains an analysis of statewide development capacity, or land supply inside and outside of the Priority Funding Areas. MDP also completes growth projections to the year 2030. Under current programs (current zoning water and sewer plans, etc), it is estimated that all of the State's future growth to 2030 could fit inside our current PFAs. While it is not realistic that 100 percent of new growth will go inside PFAs, our PFAs could be used more efficiently to accommodate a larger share of future growth.

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Impact of Septic Systems

Maryland has about 430,000 septic systems on developed parcels; 420,000 of them are on residential parcels. About 50,000 are located in the Critical Area, sensitive areas within 1,000 feet of tidal waters.

Septic systems release pollutants, such as nitrogen, into ground water. Ultimately, much of this groundwater is discharged to surface waters. For example, in the Critical Area about 80 percent of nitrogen from septic systems will reach the estuary.

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An estimated 7 percent (3.6 million pounds per year) of the Chesapeake Bay's total nitrogen load in Maryland comes from septic systems. Based on current growth trends, MDP projects about 145,000 new septic systems will be added over the next 20 years, resulting in a 34-percent increase in total nitrogen load. The average person using a septic system contributes about 9.5 lbs of nitrogen per year to ground water. Installing or upgrading to a nutrient enhanced removal septic system, reduces the nitrogen load delivered to the Chesapeake Bay by half.