A Model Ordinance for Siting Warehouses and Distribution Centers Now Available in Pennsylvania  

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Best Practices in Planning 

By Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner 

Fi. 1 – Screenshot of “Living with Logistics” report cover showing an aerial view of a warehouse surrounded by semi-trucks.

A Pennsylvania non-profit, PennFuture, recently developed guidance for communities for siting warehouses called Putting Warehouse Development in its Place: A Community Toolkit. The toolkit is intended to be used by jurisdictions as a complement to the organization’s report and model ordinance, Living with Logistics: A Model Logistics Use Zoning Ordinance for Pennsylvania Municipalities.

The purpose of Living with Logistics is “to help municipalities encourage sustainable development practices and mitigate the environmental impacts of the logistics industry [warehouses primarily related to the rise in e-commerce], before the industry comes to town.” 

Continue reading →

Maryland NEVI Program Round 1 is Now Available! 

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

From Our Partners 

Through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan, Maryland will receive $63 million in federal formula funding to expand the state’s network of fast-charging stations along our corridors and invest in community charging following full corridor buildout. The state is utilizing a portion of this funding for a Request for Proposals (RFP) process and to award contracts to the best value bidders that will design, build, operate, and maintain the charging stations.  

Continue reading →

Retired Calvert County Planner, Jenny Plummer- Welker, Looks Back on a Storied Career 

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Women in Planning 

By Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner with Jenny Plummer-Welker 

As part of our ongoing effort to highlight the work of women planners, we sat down with Jenny Plummer-Welker, who served with Calvert County Planning and Zoning for nearly 30 years before retiring in fall 2023. We wanted to know what led her to a career in planning and about her experiences planning for Southern Maryland and on the Eastern Shore during that time. Here’s what she shared: 

Continue reading →

New! Compatibility Review Mapping Tool Launched  

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Mapping tool designed to help users understand military activities in their communities

Resources and Tools   

by Sarah Diehl, AICP, Southern Maryland Regional Planner  

The Maryland Department of Planning’s (MDP’s) Compatible Use Website helps to raise awareness of the economic impact of the U.S. military’s mission in Maryland. It provides resources and tools to advance compatible use planning and coordination.1  

Fig. 1 – Screenshot showing Compatibility Review Mapping Tool layers.
Continue reading →

Maryland’s Third Annual Statewide Brownfield Conference a Resounding Success

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Planning Assistance in Action

by Sylvia Mosser, AICP, Resource Conservation Planner

Fig. 1 – Photo of Montgomery Park sign at dusk. Courtesy, Sam Himmelrich, Jr.

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) would like to extend its sincerest thanks to the many participants, presenters, and staff who made our 2023 brownfields conference a success!

Continue reading →