From the Calvert Commissioners Mid-Term Report, issued in December 2000.  This report summarizes actions taken by the Commissioners during 1999-2000, while Commissioner Kelley served as President of the Board of County Commissioners.  See  http://www.co.cal.md.us/gov/midterm.pdf for the report in its entirety.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

1998-2002

MID-TERM REPORT

DECEMBER 31, 2000

Nestled between the banks of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay, Calvert is one of Maryland’s oldest established counties. For nearly 350 years, Calvert County has maintained a proud agricultural and fishing heritage. At the dawn of the 21^st Century, Calvert County looks with pride to its past and stands committed to preserving its rich environment and tranquil quality of life.

The final decades of the 20^th century brought unprecedented growth to Calvert County. Careful stewardship of the County’s natural and financial resources has provided the foundation for a strong and healthy future.

Growth management is a top priority for the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. Through a carefully developed strategy, the Commissioners have embarked on a course that will preserve the County’s most threatened farm and forest land, provide educational opportunities for citizens of all ages, maintain a safe and sustainable quality of life, and ensure affordable housing for all residents.

Preserving Quality of Life

Throughout the last decade, Calvert County led the state in population growth.  In 1999, the Board of County Commissioners began implementing a far reaching growth management plan that will reduce the remaining number of buildable lots in the county by nearly 30%. Included in this strategy are new zoning regulations that limit development to one unit per 10 acres. Before this action, development of one unit per five acres was allowed.

To limit the impact of this growth management strategy on farmers and low-income residents, the Commissioners also created new programs to repay farmers for their development rights and established an Affordable Housing Coalition to ensure housing opportunities for all residents.

Land Preservation is a vital component of the Commissioners plan to slow development The loss of farm and forest land has been a primary concern for citizens. A financially sound move, preserving this land reduces the number of schools and services that land development would necessitate. At the same time, land preservation will maintain the rural character of our community and the quality of our environment.

For the first time in 20 years, the County is preserving more land than it is developing. To fund this effort, the Commissioners approved an increase in the Recordation Fee and dedicated the additional revenue to land preservation. It is estimated that $1.5 million per year will be channeled from this source to fund the Purchase and Retirement Program for development rights, match the State Agricultural Land Preservation Program and support a newly approved tool, the Leveraging Program.

In addition to the County’s programs to preserve land, the State has also provided support through the Rural Legacy Program. Designed to compliment Smart Growth, Rural Legacy provides funding statewide to preserve large, contiguous tracks of land. Calvert County has received a total of $5.3 million to help preserve our Rural Legacy Area, which runs from the Battle Creek Watershed to the Parker’s Creek Watershed.

All of these programs, along with the independent efforts of the County’s land trusts, will contribute to the long range goal of permanently preserving an additional 28,000 acres, for a total of 40,000 acres of preserved forest and farm land in Calvert County. This translates into a reduction of up to 40,000 people in the County’s projected future population.