GDP Update: A Lengthy Process

By Joseph Patrick Bulko

The year-long process to deliver the much-anticipated 2008 update to Anne Arundel County's General Development Plan (GDP) is underway. The GDP is a comprehensive plan used to guide future decisions related to growth, development, preservation, resource management and the provision of public services.
"The state of Maryland requires counties to update the General Development Plan every several years," said Lynn Miller, long-range planning administrator for the county. She added that new state regulations require the inclusion of additional elements beyond those contained in the plan currently being used, the 1997 update.
New state planning legislation adopted by the 2006 General Assembly mandates that all local jurisdictions' comprehensive plans include an assessment of the impacts of future land use plans on area water resources, including water and wastewater supply capacities and local tributaries.
Additional state legislation requires counties to designate Priority Preservation Areas for the purpose of streamlining state and local funds used for agricultural preservation. Provision of an adequate supply of workforce housing, and strategies to accomplish this, is another important aspect of the updated plan. Containing the majority of new growth within the county's existing Priority Funding Areas will continue to be a goal of the 2008 GDP update.

Growth Management
"The GDP is a policy guidance document, [consisting of] recommendations and guidelines," Miller said. "It can lead to the adoption of new regulations and legislation. The GDP sets the policy, which is implemented through zoning codes, capital projects [and other official means]."
A primary objective of the 2008 update is to provide a solid growth management plan that will ensure a sound fiscal base for the county during the 10- to 20-year planning horizon.
"Generally, local jurisdictions want to update the plan because of changes," she said. "[For example], development is a moving target."
The plan is prepared during a two-phase process. The first phase involves the preparation of background reports on each of the major plan elements. During the second phase, draft policies and strategies for each of the elements will be developed and presented in the preliminary draft plan.
Two advisory groups assist with the GDP process: The Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), consisting of 15 county department heads or their appointees, and the Special Advisory Committee (SAC) to the Planning Advisory Board (PAB), consisting of 21 citizens from a broad range of professions and backgrounds.

Focus on Public
Special Advisory Committee members are chosen via an application process, and they are "appointed by the county executive," Miller said. "The county charter requires having a planning advisory board. The PAB reviews the GDP and makes recommendations to the county executive. It also reviews the county's capital budget."
The Planning Advisory Board is composed of seven county residents appointed by the county executive for terms coterminous with the county executive's term. Members of the board receive no compensation for their services. The SAC members are responsible for providing timely review and comment of the findings and recommendations for the updated GDP to the PAB.
"The role of the SAC is to review the draft plan and the phases of it and to provide assistance to the Planning Advisory Board," Miller said. "SAC focuses solely on the GDP and determines if it's in the best interest of the public. The committee addresses the public's concerns. Members [of the SAC] represent the county geographically. They have familiarity with the concerns of the county."
In addition to the General Development Plan, the Planning Advisory Board reviews proposed capital projects annually with representatives from different county departments, the Board of Education and Anne Arundel Community College.
The five broad themes composing the focus of the 2008 update are balanced growth and fiscal stability, environmental stewardship, community enhancement and revitalization, preserving rural South County, and promoting town center and targeted growth areas.

Lengthy Process
Work on the 2008 GDP update began last July and will continue through 2008, with the county expecting to have an adopted plan by the end of year.
The timeline for the update is as follows:
- Through April: Preparation of background reports and review by TAP
- May: PAB briefing on background reports and review by SAC
- May to July: Preparation of draft policies and strategies and preliminary draft plan and review by TAP
- July to August: Public forums on the preliminary draft plan
- August to October: Preparation of final draft plan and review by TAP
- October: PAB briefing on final draft plan and review by SAC
The lengthy process creates opportunities for review and input by residents of the county. "We're trying to maximize public input and participation in the GDP revision process," said county spokesperson Tracie Reynolds.
The county executive's role in the process is mainly oversight, while the planning staff "cranks out the plan," Miller said. "The final draft is presented to the Planning Advisory Board, and then introduced to the county council as a piece of legislation. [The council] does have to approve the GDP."