The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission is partnering with the Maryland Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc., on a workshop titled “Agricultural and Forest Land Preservation: Exploring Development Rights and Clustering Opportunities”.
This workshop, to be held April 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) Auditorium in Hughesville, Md., may be of special interest to county commissioners, planning commissioners, Maryland Farm Bureau members, planning and zoning officials, and voters from St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, and Prince George’s counties.
A four-member panel will highlight current trends in rural land preservation for Southern Maryland and also discuss the use of other tools such as clustering, Purchase of Development Rights, and Transfer of Development Rights. In addition, the workshop will feature counties that have successfully used these tools and related findings from the Center.
Confirmed panelists include Mr. Joseph Tassone, Director of Environmental Planning for the Maryland Department of Planning; Mr. Grant Dehart, AICP, Consultant in design, planning, public policy, and land preservation; Mr. Wayne McGinnis, farmer and Baltimore County Planning Board member; and Mr. Mike Phipps, farmer and member of the Planning Commission of Calvert County. A moderated question and answer session will follow the presentations.
To reserve a space call the So. MD Agricultural Development Commission at 301.274.1922. For more information or directions call Sarah Taylor-Rogers at 410.827.6202 or Christine Bergmark at 301.274.1922. Directions are also available at www.agroecol.umd.edu