MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1311

STATE WITH THE PLANNING ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
COORDINATE ACTIVITIES OF UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT,
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHERE NEEDED, STIMULATE
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES OF THE STATE,
AND COORDINATE THE STATS PROGRAMS WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS THAT CERTAIN LAND
USE CHANGES WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT UPON THE LAND AND THE ENTIRE REGION
AND STATE. THESE LAND USE CHANGES FREQUENTLY COVER LARGE
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OR INVOLVE LARGE NUMBERS OF HOUSING
UNITS. THESE USE CHANGES HAVE INDIRECT AND DIRECT COSTS,
NOT PRESENTLY BEING ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED, TO ALL THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE. THE COSTS INCLUDE MONEY EXPENDED
FOR EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, SEWER AND
MATER CONSTRUCTION, HOUSING ELEMENTS, AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, AS WELL AS LESS MEASURABLE COSTS SUCH AS THOSE
ASSOCIATED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS THAT CERTAIN LAND USE CHANGES,
WHEN OCCURRING IN CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF THE
STATE, HAVE SUBSTANTIAL REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THESE CHANGES HAVE AT TIMES
DEPRIVED ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF TANGIBLE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WITHOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

(B)    DECLARATIONS. - THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES
THAT IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE (1) TO FAVOR PATTERNS
OF LAND USE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT,, AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH
ARE IN ACCORD WITH SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL,, ECONOMIC, AND
SOCIAL VALUES AND WHICH ENCOURAGE THE WISE AND BALANCED
USE OF THE STATE'S RESOURCES; (2) TO FAVOR, FOR THE
HEALTH, GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURITY OF THE PEOPLE,
STATE PARTICIPATION IN LAND USE DECISIONS WHICH HAVE
STATE OR REGIONAL IMPACT EITHER BECAUSE OF THEIR SCALE OR
BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIFIC LOCATION; (3) TO ASSIST LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO IMPROVE UPON THEIR PRESENT LAND USE
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS WITH RESPECT TO AREAS OF
CRITICAL STATE CONCERN, [[KEY]] MAJOR PUBLIC FACILITIES,
LAND USE, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF REGIONAL
BENEFIT, AND LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT; (4) TO FACILITATE
INCREASED COORDINATION IN THE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAND OF THE STATE IN ORDER TO
ENCOURAGE SOUND LAND USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT; AND (5)
TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMATIC METHODS FOR THE
EXCHANGE OF LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT DATA AND INFORMATION
AMONG THE UNITS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
STATE.

(C)    PURPOSE. - THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO
PROMOTE EFFICIENT AND REASONABLE PLANNING AND LAND USE
MANAGEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
BY PROVIDING A MECHANISM BY WHICH PLANNING AND LAND USE