Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 (House Bill 475)

The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 strengthens reinvestment and revitalization in Maryland's older communities by reinventing an existing rehabilitation tax credit and extending the life of the credit through 2014, simplifying the framework for designated target areas in the Community Legacy (CL) and Neighborhood BusinessWorks (NBW) program by creating "Sustainable Communities", establishing a new transportation focus on older communities, and enhancing the role of the Smart Growth Subcabinet (SGSC) in the revitalization of communities.

Why is the law important?

The Sustainable Communities Act represents a renewed partnership of State and local leaders from the public and private sectors. The law continues the State's progress toward renewing and sustaining investment in local established communities. This legislation is an important step toward coordinating resources in ways that acknowledge the interdependence of economic, environmental and social investments for the following reasons:

• During its first year of implementation, the law will create an estimated 740 jobs in the construction industry.
• Private investment is attracted and sustained in the State's revitalization areas. Pooled funding resources such as grants and loans for nonprofit organizations, local governments, and small businesses are able to combine and create synergy in one clear revitalization investment area.
• The legislation helps to preserve the authentic "sense of place" and historic character of Maryland communities.
• The green economy and sustainable development practices are advanced in tandem with revitalization investment.
• Maryland families are connected to economic opportunity in improving communities. Government programs and resources are streamlined and aligned to enhance effectiveness and create efficiencies in community revitalization.
• Scarce public resources are targeted to select areas in order to transform older, established communities and preserve natural resources.
• Local communities are provided an opportunity to re-envision their revitalization goals and plans to create greater economic opportunity and environmental protection.

What does it mean for Maryland citizens?

The new law promotes equitable, affordable housing by expanding energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation. Because the law favors transit-oriented development, Maryland citizens are afforded more transportation choices, which will decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health.

Click here to read House Bill 475 (66 pages).

Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission(House Bill 474 and Senate Bill 278)

The Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission continues the vital work started by the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development. This law transforms the original task force into the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission by expanding its charge and extending its membership and tenure. The Commission will provide the State with a broad representation of stakeholders who can continue to promote a smart and sustainable growth agenda and to build on the work of the task force. Commission members who represent a region of the State must have knowledge of smart growth and planning issues.

Why is the law important?

The Commission is charged with assessing the progress of achieving the goals of the State's Twelve Planning visions and the 2009 Smart, Green, and Growing legislation. Both the visions and the legislation reflect Maryland's ongoing aspiration to encourage sustainable development and protect the quality of life by developing land at a pace that is consistent with the projected growth in population and housing, and by minimizing residential land consumption outside of existing communities.

What does it mean for Maryland citizens?

• Sustainable development that protects the quality of life;
• Strengthened existing cities and communities;
• Protected farmlands and natural resources like the Chesapeake Bay;
• Reduced automobile dependency and increased access to transit, walking, and bicycling;
• Jobs that are near communities;
• Increased housing affordability and strengthened economic development in local communities.

Click here to read House Bill 474 (10 pages).
Click here to read Senate Bill 278 (10 pages).

Principles of Sustainable Communities

MDP is working side-by-side with State agencies, the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development, local government agencies and a variety of stakeholders to coordinate a statewide approach to applying the principles of Sustainable Communities in Maryland.  There are:

• Provide more transportation choices.  Develop safe, reliable, and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health.
• Promote equitable, affordable housing.  Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
• Enhance economic competitiveness.  Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers, as well as expanded business access to markets.
• Support existing communities.  Target federal funding toward existing communities—through strategies like transit oriented, mixed-use development, and land recycling—to increase community revitalization and the efficiency of public works investments and safeguard rural landscapes.
• Coordinate and leverage policies and investment.  Align policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding, and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
• Value communities and neighborhoods.  Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban, or suburban.