The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners have adopted a resolution approving the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, thus, updating the 2002 Plan.
The Plan is the conclusion of over two and a half years of intensive citizen participation and study. This landmark Plan has been developed to provide the county with a clear vision into the future.
“Maintaining Queen Anne’s County as a quintessentially rural county by honoring its rich agricultural heritage, while taking bold steps to ensure economic viability for the future” is the basis for the 2010 Plan, said Commission President Gene Ransom.
The Plan includes the state mandated requirements of a Water Resources, Priority Preservation and Workforce Housing element and its focus is captured in the concept of “Preserving Connections to Create the Future.” The Plan connects to the environment, small towns, historic endowment and cultural heritage, as well as business and tourism sectors and community facilities. Commissioner Carol Fordonski said she was pleased with the Plan’s environmental element. “This Plan approaches the next level of protection for Queen Anne’s County’s sensitive and pristine environment to preserve our land, forest, rivers and waterways for generations to come,” she said.
“With over 800 citizens participating in community meetings, on-line surveys, citizen committees and public hearings, this plan process provided more opportunities for citizen engagement than any other in the 45 year history of county Comprehensive Planning,” said Commissioner Dr. Eric Wargotz.
The Advisory Report from the seven citizen committees produced 385 recommendations and was the foundation for the development of the elements of the 2010 Comprehensive Plan. The report also provided the Planning Commission with the vision to craft the goals, objectives and recommendations that supply the guidelines the County will take over the next 20 years. Additionally, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Smart Growth and Rural Preservation, whose members were appointed by the County Commissioners, offered significant guidance through specific recommendations concerning the preservation of equity in agricultural lands and enhancing the tools necessary to preserve agriculture as a viable industry in the County.
“Preserving farm equity and using tools such as Transfer Development Rights (TDR) and allowing for the creation of new planning areas to accommodate development rights establishes a necessary direction to insure preservation of farm values,” said Fordonski.
The Commissioners’ vision is the guiding principle throughout the entire Plan:
Queen Anne’s County Commissioners’ Vision Statement
The vision for the future of Queen Anne’s County has remained constant with emphasis on maintaining and enhancing a predominantly rural county with small towns connected by creeks and county roads through fields and forest – a great place to live; – a county that encourages agriculture, seafood and maritime industries, tourism and outdoor sports, small business and high tech enterprise – a good place to work; – a county that is a faithful steward of its natural and cultural heritage – a good neighbor for the Bay and other Eastern Shore counties; – a county in which development by some does not impair the quality of life enjoyed by all – a community that protects the expectations and opportunities of all its citizens; and – a county that supports the highest quality of education to fully prepare its citizens for the future.
The 2010 Queen Anne’s County Comprehensive Plan is available on line at www.qac.org.