Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 878

Bill Title: Smart Growth - Visions and Performance Standards

Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Harrington & Frosh

Subject: Environment & Energy

Committee: EHE

Bill Summary: This bill would have altered the visions for land use plan, and established performance standards to measure the achievement of the visions. It would have required a plan to be designed to allow a local jurisdiction to meet specified performance standards on or before October 1, 2018. It would have required a local jurisdiction to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Planning by October 1, 2012, that the plan would achieve the performance standards by 2018.

History: This bill died without a vote in the Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: This measures and indicators bill for smart growth was unachievable for most local jurisdictions. It would have required an 80% inside growth standard near all transit sites. Additionally, it would have been very expensive and would have required the use of state funds. For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber opposed this bill.

Position Statement: Click here (pdf)

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.