DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING

FUNCTIONS

301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, October 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

OFFICE OF SECRETARY

Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Planning heads the Department (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5-201 through 5-204).

The Secretary of Planning serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the Governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay (Governor's Chesapeake Bay Cabinet); and the Principals' Staff Committee for the Chesapeake Executive Council. The Secretary also chairs the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Maryland Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments, and is Vice-Chair of the Smart Growth Subcabinet.

As a member, the Secretary serves on the Board of Trustees, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation; the Governor's Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture; the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board; the Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee; the Commission on Climate Change; the Coast Smart Council; the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays; the Interagency Disabilities Board; the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities; the Maryland Green Building Council; the Commission on Health Equity; the State Highway Access Valuation Board; the Historic St. Mary's Fort to 400 Commission; the State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation; the Advisory Committee for the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum; the Council on Open Data; the Patuxent River Commission; the Port of Deposit State Historical Park Stakeholder Advisory Committee; the Rural Legacy Board; the Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board; the Interagency Commission on School Construction; the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs; the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland; the Maryland 250 Commission; and the Maryland Zero-Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council.

Under the Department are three main divisions: Historical and Cultural Programs, Operations, and Planning Services (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5-101 through 5-816).

MARYLAND CENSUS

DIVISION OF HISTORICAL & CULTURAL PROGRAMS

In 1985, the Division of Historical and Cultural Programs started as the Division of Cultural Affairs within the Department of Economic and Community Development. When the Department of Housing and Community Development formed in 1987, the Division transferred to the new department as the Division of Cultural Activities. In 1988, it was renamed the Division of Historical and Cultural Programs. Effective October 1, 2005, the Division transferred to the Department of Planning (Chapter 440, Acts of 2005).

Most Division programs fall under the Maryland Historical Trust, which oversees Operations Management, the Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum, and three offices: Planning, Education, and Outreach; Preservation Services; and Research, Survey, and Registration. The Division also is responsible for the Maryland Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and staff support for the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

MARYLAND ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The Maryland Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was created in 1985 within the Department of Economic and Community Development (later the Department of Housing and Community Development) (Chapter 500, Acts of 1985). In October 2005, the Council joined the Department of Planning (Chapter 440, Acts of 2005).

The Council is a dispute resolution body. It meets only when the Maryland Historical Trust and another State unit disagree on how to avoid or minimize adverse effects from State-assisted undertakings on properties listed in or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. State agencies also may seek the advice of the Council in similar cases involving a State permit or license. Since 1985, the Council has met only once, in February 2004.

Comments of the Council are advisory. Final decisions regarding affected projects rest with the agency head (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5A-324).

The Council is comprised of seven members. Three are appointed by the Governor. Four serve ex officio. The Secretary of Planning is designated chair.

MARYLAND HERITAGE AREAS AUTHORITY
Within the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority was created in 1996 as an independent unit (Chapter 601, Acts of 1996). In October 2005, the Authority moved to the Department of Planning as an independent unit (Chapter 440, Acts of 2005).

A heritage area is an area distinguished by unique physical and cultural resources vital to the history and development of the surrounding community. While fostering small business development, potentially eligible communities may protect and develop their historical, cultural, and natural resources through the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. Such a community first applies to the Authority to become a Recognized Heritage Area. If approved by the Authority, the community next applies to the Authority for a Heritage Area Management Plan Grant, which provides matching State funds to develop a detailed management plan. Upon approval of the plan by the Authority, the area is designated a Certified Heritage Area, and becomes eligible for assistance with grants and loans, as well as tax incentives for rehabilitating buildings, historic and nonhistoric, for tourism use.

The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority was the first certified heritage area, predating the Authority.

To support economic development through heritage tourism, the Authority, since 1996, has approved the following thirteen Certified Heritage Areas:
Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (Prince George's County);
Baltimore National Heritage Area (Baltimore City);
Beach to Bay Heritage Area (Somerset, Worcester & Wicomico Counties);
Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (Anne Arundel County);
Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area (Dorchester County);
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (Carroll, Frederick, & Washington Counties);
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway (Harford & Cecil Counties);
Montgomery County Heritage Area;
Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area (Garrett County);
Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area/Canal Place (Allegany County);
Patapsco Valley Heritage Area (Baltimore & Howard Counties);
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area (Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties); and
Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area (Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, & Talbot Counties).

The Authority consists of seventeen members. Ten are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Seven serve ex officio (Code Financial Institutions Article, secs. 13-1101 though 13-1124).

GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON MARYLAND MILITARY MONUMENTS
The Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments was made part of the Department of Planning on June 13, 2016 (Executive Order 01.01.2016.17).

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST

100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Properties of historic or architectural merit are acquired and maintained by the Trust through gift, grant, or purchase. Under an easement program, the Trust holds partial interest in such properties in order to monitor their condition and appearance without the necessity of public ownership.

Through State grants and a revolving-fund loan program, the Trust helps organizations, local governments, businesses, and individuals restore and acquire historic properties. Matching grants from the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior are made through the Trust. They support programs, such as historic resource identification (i.e., survey); evaluation (i.e., registration); preservation planning and education; and the Certified Local Government Program.

To local jurisdictions, the Trust makes grants for surveying Maryland historic sites. Results of these surveys are published. The most significant sites are eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places through the Trust. Properties listed on the National Register receive a degree of protection from federal and State licensed or funded projects that might adversely affect them.

A library of archival and photographic material relating to Maryland archaeological and architectural history is maintained by the Trust.

Appointed by the Governor pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the State Historic Preservation Officer is a member of the Trust staff. Preservation activities as required by the federal government are carried out by the State Historic Preservation Officer in concert with the Trust (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5A-301 through 5A-359).

The Trust works through Operations Management and three offices: Planning, Education and Outreach; Preservation Services; and Research, Survey, and Registration. It also oversees the Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Fifteen members constitute the Trust's Board of Trustees. Twelve are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Three serve ex officio. Trustees appoint up to ten area representatives to serve two-year terms. The Board appoints the Director (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5A-312 through 5A-319).

JEFFERSON PATTERSON HISTORICAL PARK & MUSEUM
10515 Mackall Road, St. Leonard, MD 20685
Open all year, 7:30 am until dusk, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

The Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum at St. Leonard, Calvert County, opened to the public in 1984. On the Patuxent River and St. Leonard's Creek, the 546-acre Park extends along two and a half miles of shoreline. Most of the Park is located on Point Farm, which was deeded in trust to the State by Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson in honor of her husband, Jefferson Patterson. Here scientists have found evidence of prehistoric Indian sites, 10 to 12 million-year-old invertebrate fossils, and remnants of early European settlements. The Park and Museum function as an educational, research and recreational facility.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE JEFFERSON PATTERSON HISTORICAL PARK & MUSEUM
In October 1983, the Governor appointed this committee under the trust agreement that transferred the Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum to the State to be administered by the Maryland Historical Trust. The Committee oversees planning for the Park and Museum and advises the Trust on this planning.

MARYLAND ARCHEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION LABORATORY
The Maryland Archeological Conservation Laboratory opened in 1998. The 38,000 square-foot archaeological facility treats and stores over 3.5 million artifacts. Collections are available to researchers and educators and for exhibits to museums. Within the research library are over 10,000 catalogued items dealing with Native-American life, archaeology, history, agriculture, and the identification and conservation of artifacts and antiques, the Chesapeake Bay environment, and museum studies.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Under the Maryland Historical Trust, Operations Management is responsible for fiscal affairs, grants management, and information technology. Further, it oversees a number of functions formerly assigned to the Office of Archaelogy.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ARCHAEOLOGY
Formerly under the Maryland Geological Survey, the Advisory Committee on Archaeology transferred to the Maryland Historical Trust in 1990 (Chapter 57, Acts of 1990). The Committee advises and assists the Office of Archaeology on archaeological matters and reviews policies, plans, rules, and regulations concerned with archaeological matters.

The Committee's seven members are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor upon recommendation of the Secretary of Planning and with Senate advice and consent (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5A-336).

OFFICE OF PLANNING, EDUCATION, & OUTREACH
In 1996, the Office of Planning, Education, and Outreach originated as the Office of Planning and Educational Outreach under the Office of Management, Planning, and Educational Outreach. In 1997, it reorganized as Planning and Heritage Outreach, and in 2004, as Heritage Planning and Outreach. In October 2007, Heritage Planning and Outreach combined with the Office of Museum Services to form the Office of Preservation Planning and Museum Programs. In January 2015, the Office restructured under its present name.

The Office provides staff support to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and offers technical preservation assistance to local governments and the general public. It administers the Certified Local Government Program, prepares the state historic preservation plan, and conducts outreach programs including the annual Maryland Historic Preservation Awards program.

Under the Office is the Maryland Heritage Areas Program.

MARYLAND HERITAGE AREAS PROGRAM
Maryland Heritage Areas Program started as Heritage Area and Museum Programs. It reformed under its present name in 2008.

OFFICE OF PRESERVATION SERVICES
In 1989, the Office of Preservation Services was established. Throughout Maryland, the Office protects and enhances historic, archaeological and cultural properties.

Office work is conducted by four units: Capital Grants and Loans, Historic Preservation Easements and Tax Credits, Review and Compliance, and Underwater Archaelogy.

CAPITAL GRANTS & LOANS
This unit administers the Historic Preservation Loan Program, Capital Historic Preservation Grant Program, and African American Heritage Preservation Grant Program and provides support for the Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENTS AND TAX CREDITS
The Historic Preservation Easement Program, Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit Program, and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program are administered by Historic Preservation Easements and Tax Credits.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM
The Historic Preservation Easement Program originated as the Financial Assistance and Easements Unit.

Through a variety of training programs, the Program provides technical advice and assistance on rehabilitation to local government planners, preservation commissions, and the public.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCENTIVES
Historic Preservation Incentives began as the Rehabilitation Tax Credit Unit, and later became Preservation Financial Incentives, which administered the Heritage Structure-Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program for homeowners and business entities (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5A-303). In June 2010, that program reformed as the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program (Chapter 487, Acts of 2010; Code Housing & Community Development Article, sec. 6-104). In 2016, the Program was renamed Historic Preservation Incentives.

REVIEW & COMPLIANCE
State and federally mandated regulatory reviews are conducted by Review and Compliance to protect and enhance heritage resources. Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Maryland Historical Trust Act of 1985, this unit reviews how federal and state programs affect Maryland historic properties.

UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY
In 1988, the Maryland Maritime Archeology Program began to inventory and preserve the State's submerged cultural resources, including prehistoric sites, structures, buildings and wharfs, and a wide range of vessels.

OFFICE OF RESEARCH, SURVEY, & REGISTRATION
In 1989, the Office of Research, Survey, and Registration formed to direct the Division's historical, architectural and archaeological research.

The Office formerly was organized into five units: Architectural Research; Evaluation and Registration; Geographic Information Systems; Information Management and Library Services; and Survey and Research. Today, the Office is responsible for Architectural Research, Cultural Resource Information, and Evaluation and Registration.

ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH
RESEARCH & SURVEY
Formerly Survey and Research, Research and Survey maintains the historical and archaeological components of the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. The Unit helps design and implement local survey projects, and provides inventory data for the Office and local government planners.

CULTURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & LIBRARY SERVICES
Information Management and Library Services consolidated separate libraries and the information and records management programs administered by previously separate units. The Unit carries out Division computerization and a long-term program for microfilming and electronic storage of archival and record materials.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST LIBRARY
Under Information Management and Library Services, the Maryland Historical Trust Library holds information about Maryland's architectural, archeological, and cultural resources. Its holdings include survey forms for about 35,000 historic structures and sites, and archeological files for more than 10,400 prehistoric and historic archeological sites, as well as maps, photographs, architectural drawings, plans, reports, and professional journals. The Library is open to the public by appointment, Tuesday through Thursday.

EVALUATION & REGISTRATION
Evaluation and Registration conducts historic resource registration programs, including the Maryland Register of Historic Properties, and the National Register of Historic Places. The Unit provides technical assistance to the Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments.

GOVERNOR'S CONSULTING COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
The Governor formed this committee in 1967 to carry out terms of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-665). The law requires the State to nominate properties for the National Register of Historic Places. These nominations must be reviewed by the Consulting Committee before they are submitted to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Appointed by the Governor, Committee members serve four-year terms.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The Maryland Historical Trust develops and maintains GIS data for Maryland properties listed on the National Register of Historic Properties and those on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Geographic Information Systems also develops and maintains boundary files for the Maryland Heritage Areas statewide grid of known archeological sites.

OPERATIONS DIVISION

Within the Department, the Operations Division provides essential functions, including accounting, management information services, and procurement and inventory.

The Division oversees Fiscal Services; Legislative Relations; and Management Information Services.

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICES

PLANNING SERVICES DIVISION

The Division oversees Planning Coordination, and Planning Data and Research.

301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, October 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

PLANNING COORDINATION

To Maryland counties and municipalities, Planning Coordination provides technical assistance, local program review, and planning design services.

Three units are administered by the Planning Coordination Division: Infrastructure and Development; Local Assistance and Training; and Resource Conservation and Management.

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT
Infrastructure and Development was first organized in March 2003 as Infrastructure Planning. It reformed as Infrastructure Policy in October 2011, and adopted its current name in October 2016.

Under the Planning Services Division, Infrastructure and Development provides research and technical assistance for transportation and public school construction planning statewide. Projections and modeling are used to anticipate Maryland's future needs and analyze current proposals.

Infrastructure Planning oversees: Public School Construction; Resource Conservation; and Transportation Planning.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, & TRAINING
Local Assistance, Education, and Training began as Local Planning Assistance and was renamed Local Assistance and Training in October 2015. It adopted its present name in October 2016.

This unit oversees three regional offices and provides staff support to the Appalachian Regional Commission.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT

PATUXENT RIVER COMMISSION
In 1980, the Patuxent River Commission was created within the Department of State Planning (Chapter 746, Acts of 1980). The Commission reviews the operation of State and local agencies in regard to the Patuxent River. It provides a clearinghouse for watershed information, reviews plans, and comments on reports and development projects impacting the River.

Research Pier on Patuxent River, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, Maryland, April 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Commission prepares the Patuxent River Policy Plan and, every five years, considers draft amendments to update it. The original Patuxent River Policy Plan was adopted in 1984 as a policy guide for the Commission, State agencies, and local governments in carrying out programs in the Patuxent River watershed. In 1997, to update the Plan, the Commission adopted an addendum. Effective October 24, 2000, all local governments represented on the Commission adopted the 1997 addendum, which the General Assembly endorsed in 2001 (Joint Resolution no. 10, Acts of 2001). Coordinating the Patuxent tributary strategy with the Patuxent River Policy Plan, the Commission also serves as the Tributary Strategy Team for the Patuxent Watershed.

Thirty-four members constitute the Commission. Twenty-eight are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms. Six serve ex officio (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5-801 through 5-816).

STATE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE
In 1969, the State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance organized in accordance with the federal Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968. Formerly within the Department of State Planning, the Clearinghouse transferred to the Office of Planning in 1989 (Chapter 540, Acts of 1989). In 2000, it became part of the Department of Planning. Formerly under Strategic Development, the Clearinghouse transferred to Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs in 2005, to Strategic Development in May 2006, and back to Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs in 2007. In October 2011, the Clearinghouse separated from Communications.

The Clearinghouse facilitates intergovernmental review and coordination of applications for financial assistance, direct federal development programs, draft environmental impact statements, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, and certain specified applications for State assistance.

As the State's single point of contact for federal agencies, the Clearinghouse disseminates notices and announcements of proposed federal and some State actions. The Clearinghouse also transmits the views of Maryland State, regional and local public officials to federal agencies; facilitates resolution of disputes; and formulates a single recommended course of action. Additionally, recommendations regarding the disposition of State excess and federal surplus real property are made by the Clearinghouse.

In the weekly Intergovernmental Monitor, the Clearinghouse announces proposed federal and State actions. In the Catalog of State Assistance Programs, it reports on federal financial assistance awards, and maintains an inventory of State-owned real property and federal real property in Maryland. (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5-509).

PLANNING DATA & RESEARCH

Socio-economic, cultural, geographic, parcel and land use information for planning purposes is collected, analyzed, and published by Planning Data and Research. This office provides a database for use by State and local government agencies, and the general public. For each county and Baltimore City, projections of population, housing, public school enrollment, employment, and income are prepared. They are used by State and local government agencies, as well as the private sector.

Statistical data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and other information sources are maintained by Planning Data and Research. Such data relates to population, housing, employment, income, and education. A computerized system of the office also geographically references data on the physical and cultural attributes of the State.

Planning Data and Research helps maintain the State's 2,800 automated property maps and their linkage via x,y reference points to the two-million parcel database of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. This information is accessible to government agencies and the public on CD-ROM as MdProperty View for use with off-the-shelf viewing software and standard personal computers. MdProperty View quickly retrieves map and attribute information on individual or multiple properties, including ownership, acreage, type, size, value, and improvements.

Under Planning Data and Research are three units: Geospatial and Data Analysis; Projections and State Data Center; and Property Mapping.

GEOSPATIAL & DATA ANALYSIS
Geospatial and Data Analysis started as Land Use Analysis. Formerly under Data Planning Services, Land Use Analysis in May 2007 assumed some functions formerly assigned to Technical Planning Support. In October 2011, it transferred to Planning Services, and then later to Planning Data and Analysis (now Planning Data and Research).

Geospatial and Data Analysis is responsible for Geographic Information Systems.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

POLICY & PLANNING RESEARCH
Policy and Planning Research began as Legislative and Research Services and reformed as Policy and Planning Research under Communications and Education in 2011.

PLANNING RESEARCH SERVICES
Planning Research Services formed under Communications (now Communications and Education) in 2007. It is the legislatively mandated depository for general, area and functional plans created by the State or local government (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5-501). Research services are provided to the public, Department staff, and local governments. A library of planning-related literature and research materials also is maintained.

PROJECTIONS & STATE DATA CENTER
Projections and State Data Center originated in 1980 as the Research and State Data Center. In October 2015, functions of the Research and State Data Center merged with Demographic and Socioeconomic Projections to form Projection and State Data Center.

This office develops databases to assist in planning for the overall growth and development of the State. The Center provides information from decennial censuses and is concerned with historical and projected data on population, housing, employment, personal income, business establishments, parcels, and school enrollment. The Center works to improve access to and use of statistical data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other federal and State sources.

Under Projections and State Data Center is Redistricting and Reapportionment.

REDISTRICTING & REAPPORTIONMENT
Redistricting and Reapportionment compiles U.S. census data and election data to create and prepare precinct and legislative maps. From this section, maps are made available to the public.

PROPERTY MAPPING
The responsibility for preparing electronic property maps transferred from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to the Office of Planning (now Department of Planning) in October 1996. Under Planning Data Services (now Planning Data & Research), the Property Mapping Section assumed this function in 1997.

Property Mapping updates property maps and prepares them for MdProperty View. From the Section, paper copies of property maps also are available to the public.

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