[CGC] From the 6/29 Star-Democrat

[Administrator]

QA's commissioners OK policy to foster cooperative planning
June 29, 2007

CENTREVILLE - The Queen Anne's County Commissioners endorsed a policy 
intended to foster cooperative planning efforts between the county and 
incorporated towns.

The county commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to approved the policy, which 
initially was recommended June 13 by the Regional Council of Governments of 
Queen Anne's County. The policy, also supported by the Queen Anne's County 
Planning Commission, gives towns a 60-day review period to review a 
subdivision or land development plan that is planned for an unincorporated 
area, but within the town's planning area or within one mile of the town's 
municipal boundary.

"I think this is a great idea," said County Commissioner Gene Ransom. He 
said the policy could become a model for county-town planning in Maryland.

The COG policy was explained in a June 26 memo from Steve Cohoon, acting 
county planing director, to the county commissioners and acting county 
administrator John Borders:

"Upon receipt of a subdivision or development plan, proposed for land within 
a town's adopted municipal planning area/municipal growth area or within 1 
mile of the municipal limits of a town without an adopted planning/growth 
boundary, the County Planning Department will forward a copy of the plan(s) 
to the elected body of the town and provide 60 days for the town's review 
and comment. The town will in turn review the plans and submit written 
comments to the County Planning Commission for its consideration, giving 
such comments great weight."

The memo said Cohoon reviewed the policy with the county planning commission 
on June 14, and the full commission supports the proposal.