Office of Planning (Maryland)
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| Office of Planning (Maryland) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Office of Planning (Maryland) |
| Jurisdiction | Maryland |
| Headquarters | Baltimore |
| Chief1 name | Director |
| Parent agency | Department of Planning |
Office of Planning (Maryland) is a state-level planning agency based in Baltimore that advises the Governor of Maryland, coordinates with the Maryland General Assembly, and supports municipal and county actors such as the Baltimore City Council, Montgomery County Council, and Prince George's County Council. The office interacts with federal entities including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation (United States), while engaging non-governmental stakeholders like the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Annapolis市? and regional partners such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. It informs policy decisions tied to statutes like the Maryland Sustainable Communities Act and interfaces with institutions such as the University of Maryland, College Park and the Johns Hopkins University.
History
The office traces origins to early 20th-century state planning efforts influenced by figures associated with the City Beautiful movement, planners linked to the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and reforms following the Great Depression in the United States. Mid-century reforms echoing the Interstate Highway System era and the Housing Act of 1949 led to restructuring akin to changes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Later milestones include alignment with the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and state laws such as the Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation Act. Administrative reorganizations occurred during administrations of governors including William Donald Schaefer and Martin O'Malley, and the office adapted to regional initiatives like the Chesapeake Bay Program and federal programs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Organization and Leadership
Leadership models have resembled those of state planning counterparts such as the New York City Department of City Planning and the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, with a director accountable to the Governor of Maryland and legislative oversight from committees like the Maryland Senate Finance Committee. Divisions commonly mirror bureaus found in agencies such as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and include units for coastal resilience linked to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, transportation planning connected to the Federal Highway Administration, and housing policy coordinated with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Senior staff may include planners trained at programs like Harvard Graduate School of Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design.
Roles and Responsibilities
The office performs statutory planning duties similar to the New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy and provides technical assistance to bodies like the Baltimore County Council, Howard County Council, and Anne Arundel County Council. Responsibilities span statewide planning under laws akin to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and programmatic coordination for initiatives associated with the Federal Transit Administration, the National Park Service, and regional entities such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It advises on land use cases touching agencies like the Maryland Department of Transportation and interacts with courts in matters comparable to cases before the Maryland Court of Appeals.
Planning Programs and Initiatives
Programs reflect priorities seen in initiatives like the Transit-oriented development movement, the Sustainable Communities Initiative, and state-level counterparts to the Smart Growth Partnerships. Initiatives have included coastal adaptation projects coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, brownfield redevelopment following models from the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program, and affordable housing strategies informed by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. Collaborations extend to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, local historical commissions such as the Baltimore Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, and universities engaged in applied research like the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Regulatory and Advisory Functions
In regulatory and advisory roles the office issues guidance similar to that produced by the Council on Environmental Quality and delivers review and comment on projects subject to state statutes analogous to the Maryland Critical Area Act. It participates in environmental review processes comparable to SEPA and provides certification and concurrence used by agencies such as the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Public Service Commission of Maryland. The office also establishes design and form-based guidance that echoes standards from the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Relationship with Local Governments
The office works closely with municipal bodies including the Baltimore City Planning Commission, county planning boards like the Montgomery County Planning Board, and regional councils such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. It supports comprehensive plan updates similar to processes in the City of Annapolis and offers technical assistance, grant administration, and mediation services paralleling functions in the Metropolitan Planning Organization framework used in Washington, D.C., and surrounding jurisdictions.
Funding and Budget
Funding mechanisms mirror those used by state planning offices, comprising state appropriations approved by the Maryland General Assembly, grants from federal agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and partnerships with foundations like the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Budget cycles align with the Maryland State Budget process and oversight by executive budget entities such as the Governor's Office of Budget and Management.