TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Department of Planning on Tuesday announced the Small Area Plans initiative to better understand the needs of local communities and to help the county reach its sustainability goals.

The new initiative will divide the county into 12 different geographical areas, which will then be subject to the process of community engagement and the development of their own Small Area Plan. The Small Area Plans will then be used to refine the overall Master Plan for the county.

The process for developing the Small Area Plans will start with the existing Master Plan 2030 as a guide. The plans will then include a concept vision and recommended actions that are specific to each area and aim to address key issues and concerns. The county has plans to hold a series of community engagement events in the coming weeks for the first Small Area Plan which will include residents from Middle River, Bowleys Quarters, Essex, White Marsh, and Rossville.

The Small Area Plans initiative is part of the Baltimore County government’s efforts to implement the goals of the Master Plan 2030 and to create more sustainable and enriching communities.

“We remain focused on building more equitable, more sustainable communities across Baltimore County and this new small area planning process is an innovative and targeted approach that will help ensure we leverage the knowledge, experiences, and passions of community members in shaping the future of their neighborhoods,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said. “I encourage our neighbors to get involved so that their voices can be heard during this critical process.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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