Sustainable Growth Webinar Series
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Upcoming Webinars in the Series
Note: First-Come, First-Served; Only the first 1,000 people who click the link to join a live webinar will be granted access to the Zoom webinar. Anyone attempting to join after the 1,000-seat limit is reached will be prompted to view our live stream instead.
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Implementing Comprehensive Plans Through Zoning: How Local Governments Are Advancing Sustainable Land Use
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 12:00 PM
A comprehensive plan establishes a community’s long-term vision, but that vision can only be realized when local zoning regulations support and implement its goals. This webinar examines how the Town of Chestertown, Maryland, is translating its comprehensive plan into action through an extensive update of its zoning ordinance, guided by the State’s Sustainable Growth Planning Principles.
Using Chestertown as a case study, the panel will explore the relationship between comprehensive planning, public engagement, and zoning reform. Topics include the findings of the Regional Urban3 value-per-acre analysis, strategies for meaningful community participation, and lessons learned from conducting a town-wide rezoning. The discussion will also examine the common disconnect between adopted sustainable growth policies and legacy zoning regulations that often inhibit their implementation.
Panelists will present an overview of the Regional Urban3 study, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), and explain how value-per-acre analysis can help inform land use decisions and support fiscally sustainable development patterns. Panelists will describe how they incorporated the new MDP Sustainable Planning Elements into their comprehensive plan and are considering a re-write of their zoning code to implement context sensitive solutions through the zoning and redevelopment process.
Following the webinar, attendees will be able to ….
Construct zoning ordinances that align with comprehensive plan objectives.
Integrate Maryland's sustainable growth principles into local land use regulations.
Implement zoning reforms that support vibrant, resilient, and economically sustainable communities.
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See recordings of our most recent webinars at the
Past Webinars page. 