DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING

DEFUNCT AGENCIES

Chair: Robert S. McCord, Esq., Secretary of Planning

Appointed by Secretary of Planning: Nicholas A. Redding; John Renner, Jr.

Appointed by Senate President: Katie Fry Hester

Appointed by House Speaker: Regina T. Boyce

Ex officio: Robert S. McCord, Esq., Secretary of Planning

• Report, January 2020

In June 2019, Adaptive Reuse of Historic Properties Study Steering Committee formed (Chapter 334, Acts of 2019).

Secretary of Planning contracted with a consultant who conducted a study, overseen by Steering Committee, on adaptive reuse of historic properties. These historic properties, under parameters of study, would be located in Maryland and owned or previously owned by State or federal government.

By Sept. 15, 2019, consultant was to submit a draft report to Secretary of Planning and Steering Committee. By Dec. 15, 2019, final report was to be submitted to Secretary, who was to forward report to Governor and General Assembly.

ADMINISTRATION
Reorganized as Operations in March 2010.

ANNEXATION WORK GROUP
Staff: Patricia A. Goucher (410) 767-4551; e-mail: pgoucher@mdp.state.md.us

Chair: Audrey E. Scott, Secretary of Planning

Appointed by Secretary of Planning: James R. Cohen, Ph.D.

Representing Maryland Association of Counties: James J. Cannelli; Edward H. Hammond, Jr., Esq., Hilary B. Spence.

Representing Maryland Municipal League: Jon L. Arason; David Thompson; Barrie Parsons Tilghman.

At request of Maryland Association of Counties and Maryland Municipal League, Secretary of Planning convened Annexation Work Group in April 2005. Work Group considered interjurisdictional growth issues, specifically those relating to annexation.

Completed its work in 2005.

ARCHAEOLOGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Charles L. Hall, Ph.D., State Terrestrial Archaeologist (410) 697-9552; e-mail: charles.hall@maryland.gov

Work consolidated under Office of Research, Survey, and Registration.

BANNEKER-DOUGLASS MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE
With Commission on African-American History and Culture, transferred to Governor's Office of Community Initiatives, July 1, 2008 (Chapter 521, Acts of 2008).

CHESAPEAKE BAY & WATER RESOURCES
Under Planning Services, restructured as Environmental Planning in Oct. 2011.

CHIEF OF STAFF
Replaced by Assistant Director of External Affairs.

CLEARINGHOUSE & PLAN REVIEW SECTION
Under State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance.

Clearinghouse and Plan Review Section began as Plan and Project Review in 1994. It adopted its current name in 1997. The Section checked county and municipal comprehensive plans for compliance with the Planning Act of 1992 (Chapter 437, Acts of 1992) and reviewed water and sewer plans, and municipal annexation proposals for consistency with State and local planning policies.

The Section had two primary components: the State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance; and the local plan assessment and advice program.

Disbanded.

COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE
Under Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, transferred to Governor's Office of Community Initiatives, July 1, 2008 (Chapter 521, Acts of 2008).

COMMUNICATIONS
In Oct. 2011, functions split between Communications and Education, and State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance.

COMMUNICATIONS & EDUCATION
Initiated in March 2003 as Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, became Communications in July 2008, and Communications and Education in October 2011. In Oct. 2015, combined with Operations to form Operations Division.

Communications and Education publicized and promoted Administration’s smart growth initiatives and Department's mission through production and distribution of digital and print media; implementation of social media strategies and media relations; and maintaining an information platform and presence on Internet.

COMMUNICATIONS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Renamed Communications in July 2008.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
Under State and Local Planning, renamed Planning Coordination and Resource Management in Fall 1997.

CULTURAL CONSERVATION
Under Maryland Historical Trust, Cultural Conservation focused on intangible historic and cultural resources, including oral history, folklife, and regional traditions. It conducted field research and oral history projects, and prepared publications and audiovisual materials.

Abolished in Sept. 2009 due to budgetary constraints.

CULTURAL RESOURCES HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM
Jennifer A. Sparenberg, Program Officer (410) 697-9588; e-mail: jen.sparenberg@maryland.gov

No longer a stand-alone program.

DATA PLANNING SERVICES
Formerly under Planning Services, restructured as Planning Data and Analysis in Oct. 2011.

DEMOGRAPHIC & SOCIOECONOMIC PROJECTIONS
Under Planning Data and Analysis, renamed Projections and State Data Center under Planning Data and Research in Oct. 2015.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Under Secretary, abolished.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Under Planning Services, renamed Land-Use Planning and Analysis in Nov. 2003.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Under Planning Services Division, restructured as Resource Conservation and Management.

Environmental Planning began as Comprehensive Planning. It became Planning Coordination and Resource Management in 1997, Environmental Planning in March 2003, and Land-Use Planning and Analysis in November 2003. It was renamed Resource Conservation Planning in July 2004, Land and Water Resource Planning in July 2008. and was restructured under its present name in October 2011.

Policies for land use and growth, water and sewer infrastructure, restoration and protection of Chesapeake Bay, and natural resource protection were developed by Environmental Planning.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Under Office of Secretary, abolished by Jan. 2024.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & EASEMENTS UNIT
Under Maryland Historical Trust, renamed Historic Preservation Easement Program within Office of Preservation Services in June 2009.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & LIBRARY SERVICES
Under Office of Research, Survey, and Registration.

INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY
Under Planning Services Division, restructured as Infrastructure and Development.

INTERAGENCY ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESOURCE PROTECTION, & PLANNING COMMITTEE
Last met in 1994.

INTERNET INFORMATION SERVICES
Under Office of Research, Survey, and Registration.

LAND & WATER RESOURCE PLANNING

LAND USE ANALYSIS

LAND USE PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Under Planning Services, renamed Resource Conservation Planning in July 2004.

LEGISLATION
Under Operations Division, renamed Legislative Relations.

LEGISLATIVE & RESEARCH SERVICES
Under Communications and Education, restructured as Policy and Planning Research.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING
Under Planning Services Division, renamed Local Assistance, Education, and Training.

LOCAL PLANNING
Under Planning Services, reorganized as Smart Growth and Community Development in July 2005.

LOCAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE
Under Planning Services Division, renamed Local Assistance and Training in Oct. 2015.

LOCAL PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
Under Office of Preservation Planning and Museum Programs, not funded since 2011.

MUSEUM ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
Under Office of Preservation Planning and Museum Programs, Museum Advancement Program organized in 2008. To local jurisdictions and private, nonprofit organizations, Program provided financial and technical assistance for museums (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5A-349 through 5A-359).

Last funded in 2014.

MUSEUM ASSISTANCE REVIEW PANEL
Appointed by Secretary of Planning to 3-year terms:
Ken Rucker, Chair (chosen by Secretary of Planning), 2010
Mary Jurkiewicz, 2010; Lisa Mason-Chaney, 2010; Abbi Wicklein-Bayne, 2010; C. Douglass Alves, 2012; Tiffany Davis, 2012; Anita Kassof, 2012; Courtney B. Wilson, 2012; six vacancies.

Representing Executive Branch: one vacancy

Ex officio: Henry H. Stansbury, designee of Senate President; vacancy, designee of House Speaker.

Museum Assistance Review Panel organized in 1990 (Chapter 322, Acts of 1990).

Panel reviewed and recommended to Secretary of Planning approval of grants under Historical and Cultural Museum Assistance Program. In reviewing grant applications that relate to care and preservation of, or access to archival material, Panel sought advice and recommendations of State Archivist.

Panel members were appointed by Secretary of Planning, and included three ex officio members (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 5A-354).

Due to lack of funding since 2009, Panel last met in July 2011.

OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Office of Archaeology began in 1968 as Division of Archaeology under Maryland Geological Survey (Chapter 541, Acts of 1968). In 1990, archaeological functions of Survey were combined with archaeology staff of Maryland Historical Trust, and Division reformed as Office of Archaeology within Maryland Historical Trust (Chapter 57, Acts of 1990). In 1992, Office was placed under Office of Management, Planning, and Educational Outreach, and with that office in Oct. 2005 transferred to Department of Planning.

Office of Archaeology directed Maryland archaeological research, synthesized research data, and promoted further research. Office participated in excavation of significant historical or archaeological sites in custody or control of a State agency. It coordinated retrieval and preservation of objects of archaeological significance discovered during course of public construction in State. Office also encouraged preservation of prehistoric or historic sites located on private property.

Publishing reports of its research and investigations, Office made educational materials available to schools to teach students about how natives and early settlers of Maryland lived. For museums, institutions of higher education, and scientific or historical institutions, Office made available objects and materials that showed archaeological history of State and helped these institutions preserve and protect archaeological items in their custody. In addition, Office trained interested citizens to identify, investigate, and register terrestrial and submerged archaeological historic property.

Head of Office was Chief Archaeologist. Within Office of Archaeology were Terrestrial Archaeology Program, and Underwater Archaeology Program. Office also was assisted by Advisory Committee on Archaeology (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 5A-333 through 5A-346).

Under Maryland Historical Trust, archaeological functions of Office dispersed to other offices in Oct. 2007.

OFFICE OF HERITAGE PLANNING & OUTREACH
Under Maryland Historical Trust, reorganized as Heritage Area and Museum Programs within Office of Preservation, Planning and Museum Programs in Oct. 2007.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, & EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
In 1989, Office of Management, Planning, and Educational Outreach originated as Office of Management and Planning. It became Office of Management, Planning, and Educational Outreach in 1992, resumed its former name in 1996, and returned to Office of Management, Planning, and Educational Outreach in 1997. Under Maryland Historical Trust, it reorganized as Office of Heritage Planning and Outreach in May 2007.

OFFICE OF MUSEUM SERVICES
Under Maryland Historical Trust, reorganized as Heritage Area and Museum Programs within Office of Preservation, Planning and Museum Programs in Oct. 2007.

OFFICE OF PLANNING
Renamed Department of Planning on July 1, 2000 (Chapter 209, Acts of 2000).

OFFICE OF PLANNING, EDUCATION, & OUTREACH
Under Maryland Historical Trust, renamed Management Planning and Educational Outreach by Oct. 2024.

OFFICE OF PRESERVATION PLANNING & MUSEUM PROGRAMS
Under Maryland Historical Trust, restructured as Office of Planning, Education, and Outreach in Jan. 2015, when Museum Programs went unfunded.

OFFICE OF SMART GROWTH
Created in 2001 to coordinate Smart Growth programs and efforts of State agencies. In 2004, Office also became responsible for implementing Maryland Priority Places Strategy. Legislation in 2009 shifted Office focus towards collecting data from local governments on Smart Growth goals, measures, and indicators (Chapters 178 & 179, Acts of 2009). Although Office budgetarily remained in Department of Planning through 2012, its staff began working out of Governor's Delivery Unit as 2009 legislation was implemented.

Abolished effective July 1, 2012; functions assigned to Planning Data and Analysis, and Planning Services.

PERSONNEL SERVICES
Transferred to Department of Budget and Management in Oct. 2015.

PLAN & PROJECT REVIEW
Under State and Local Planning, renamed Clearinghouse and Plan Review Section in Fall 1997.

PLANNING ASSISTANCE & NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Reorganized as Local Planning in March 2003.

PLANNING ASSISTANCE & REVIEW
Under State and Local Planning, renamed Planning Assistance and Neighborhood Development in Fall 1997.

PLANNING COORDINATION & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
In March 2003, reorganized as Environmental Planning, with some functions dispersed to Infrastructure Planning.

PLANNING DATA & ANALYSIS
Restructured as Planning Data and Research under Planning Services Division in Oct. 2015.

PLANNING DATA SERVICES
Under Planning Services, restructured as Data Planning Services in March 2010.

PLANNING SERVICES DIVISION
In October 2015, Planning Services Division formed from a merger of Planning Data and Analysis, and Planning Services.

Division oversaw Planning Coordination, and Planning Data and Research.

By October 2024, Planning Services Division merged with Planning Coordination to form Planning Coordination Division.

POLICY & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Under Office of Secretary, abolished due to budget constraints in Oct. 2011.

PRESERVATION FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Under Office of Preservation Services, renamed Historic Preservation Incentives.

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Under Operations Division.

REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT UNIT
Under Maryland Historical Trust, reorganized as Preservation Financial Incentives within Office of Preservation Services.

RESEARCH & STATE DATA CENTER
Under Planning Data and Research.

RESEARCH & SURVEY
Under Office of Research, Survey, and Registration.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION PLANNING
Resource Conservation Planning originated as Comprehensive Planning, became Planning Coordination and Resource Management in 1997, was renamed Environmental Planning in March 2003, Land-Use Planning and Analysis in November 2003, and became Resource Conservation Planning in July 2004. It developed and promoted policies to support sustainable communities, neighborhood conservation, land preservation, and natural resources protection. Special attention was accorded to land use and growth, agriculture and forest preservation, restoration and protection of Chesapeake Bay, open space and recreation planning, and implementation of Patuxent River Policy Plan. This division also provided technical support for Patuxent River Commission.

Under Planning Services, reorganized as Land and Water Resources in July 2008.

SMART CODES STRATEGY GROUP
Replaced by Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council under Department of Housing and Community Development in July 2000.

SMART GROWTH & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Smart Growth and Community Development began in 1989 as Local Planning Assistance, became Planning Assistance and Review in 1994, Planning Assistance and Neighborhood Development in 1997, Local Planning in March 2003, and reformed as Smart Growth and Community Development in July 2005. This office was responsible for Office of Smart Growth, Technical Assistance, and four regional offices.

Smart Growth and Community Development helped local governments improve their planning and management, develop long-range comprehensive plans, and implement programs for economic growth and resource protection. It provided technical services mandated by State laws, such as Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act and Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas Act.

To help counties and municipalities, Smart Growth and Community Development prepared technical models and guidelines. It administered technical assistance grants from Appalachian Regional Commission for studies and helped communities realize economic development opportunities and meet objectives. To manage growth and solve problems, it offered education and outreach programs. Circuit rider staff assisted Eastern Shore municipalities in implementing Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection programs. Smart Growth and Community Development consulted with, guided, and advised county and municipal staff, citizen planning commissions, and elected officials through four regional offices at Annapolis, Centreville, Cumberland, and Salisbury.

Under Planning Services, Smart Growth and Community Development reorganized as Land Use Analysis in May 2007.

SMART GROWTH POLICY ANALYSIS
Concepts of "smart growth" were enacted into law in 1997, building upon Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act of 1992 (Chapter 759, Acts of 1997; Chapter 437, Acts of 1992). Through principles of "smart growth", Maryland is committed to limiting sprawl development by revitalizing older neighborhoods and redirecting growth to already developed areas, thereby saving the State's farmland, open spaces, and natural resources. To achieve these ends, State funds target projects in Priority Funding Areas, those locations approved for growth and redevelopment.

In October 2003, Department of Planning was charged with developing and implementing Maryland Priority Places Strategy (Executive Order 01.01.2003.33). Strategy was to establish goals for land-use policies that were fiscally sound and promote sustainable development along with long-term economic growth, community revitalization, and resource conservation.

Disbanded.

STATE & LOCAL PLANNING
Reorganized as Planning Services in March 2003.

STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESOURCE PROTECTION, & PLANNING COMMISSION
Authorization expired July 1, 2003.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
Functions dispersed in May 2007.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PLANNING
Under State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission, last met in 1997.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON REVIEW OF PLANNING & ZONING LEGISLATION
Under State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission, concluded its work in July 1998.

SYSTEMS SUPPORT
Created in 1989, Systems Support provided in-depth hardware, software, Internet, imaging and database management support. As a unit of Planning Data Services, Systems Support typically used specialized microcomputer, mainframe and networking skills to support projects, such as development of a World Wide Web connection to distribute census information and socio-economic projections via Internet. File transfer support services also were provided. In addition, Systems Support provided leadership for Data Standards Subcommittee of Maryland State Government Geographic Information Coordinating Committee and data aggregations and analysis for a variety of projects.

By April 2007, functions transferred to Internet Information Services within Communications.

WATER & SEWER PLANNING

WORK GROUP TO STUDY POSSIBLE AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN WESTERN MARYLAND
Staff: William R. (Bill) Atkinson (301) 777-2161; e-mail: bill.atkinson@maryland.gov

Chair: Wendi W. Peters, Special Secretary of Smart Growth
William R. (Bill) Atkinson; Jeffrey S. Barclay; Albert A. Delia; Kenneth O. McCreedy; Matt Miller; Elizabeth E. Stahlman; Guy J. Winterberg.

In October 2018, Governor covened Work Group to Study Possible Autonomous Technology Center in Western Maryland.

Work Group was to consider findings of a feasibility study completed by Maryland Transportation Institute of University of Maryland, College Park. That study considered technical, economic, and regulatory issues concerning establishment of an autonomous technology center in Western Maryland. Autonomous technologies include unmanned aerial systems, industrial robotics, and cybersecurity and data analysis on autonomous systems, among other things. Work Group was to make recommendations on potential sites for a center; funding sources; and design and cost estimates of construction.

While Work Group concluded that proposed autonomous vehicle facility was ill-advised, it found there was support for a partnership involving public and private sectors and academic institutions.

Following further study, new Western Maryland Advanced Technology Center at Frostburg State University was announced in 2020.

WORKING GROUP ON NATIVE-AMERICAN HUMAN REMAINS
Staff: Charles L. Hall, Ph.D. (410) 697-9552; e-mail: charles.hall@maryland.gov

Virginia R. Busby, Co-Chair
Vacancy, Co-Chair

In June 2008, Working Group on Native-American Human Remains was established by a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Maryland Historical Trust, Commission on Indian Affairs, and Department of Planning.

Working Group considered options for an appropriate place of repose for certain Native-American human remains currently in care of Maryland Archeological Conservation Laboratory at Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum.

In 2013, Working Group concluded its work.

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