OFFICE OF PLANNING


ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The Office of Planning began in 1933 as the State Planning Commission (Chapter 39, Acts of Special Session of 1933). The Commission became part of the State Planning Department in 1959 (Chapter 543, Acts of 1959). In 1969, the Department was reorganized as the Department of State Planning (Chapter 155, Acts of 1969). The Department was restructured in 1989 to become the Office of Planning (Chapter 540, Acts of 1989). The Office is the principal staff agency for planning matters concerned with the resources and development of the State.

The Director of Planning is appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. The Director serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the State Information Technology Board; the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission; the Patuxent River Commission; the Maryland Greenways Commission; the Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board; the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland; the Metropolitan Development Policy Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; the Interagency Committee on School Construction; and the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs.

Under the Office are State and Local Planning, and Planning Data Services. The Office also is aided by the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission; the Interagency Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Committee; and the Patuxent River Commission.

STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESOURCE PROTECTION, & PLANNING COMMISSION
In 1992, the State Planning Commission was reformed as the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission (Chapter 437, Acts of 1992). As an advisory board to the Office of Planning, the Commission is concerned with development issues and regional or metropolitan planning areas. The Commission fosters public awareness and understanding of the objectives and functions of State and local planning.

The Commission has seventeen members. Fifteen are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms. One member is a senator chosen by the Senate President, and one is a delegate selected by the House Speaker. The chair is named by the Governor. Authorization for the Commission continues until July 1, 2003 (Code State Finance and Procurement Article, secs. 5-701 through 5-708).

Under the Commission are five subcommittees: Environment and Economic Development; Interjurisdictional Coordination; Planning; Planning Techniques; and Review of Planning and Zoning Legislation.

INTERAGENCY ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESOURCE PROTECTION, & PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Interagency Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Committee was formed by the Governor in 1992 (Executive Order 01.01.1992.27). The Committee helps implement the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy (Chapter 437, Acts of 1992). State projects are reviewed for consistency with the Policy by the Committee. To assure that State investments in infrastructure and resource protection comply with the Policy, the Committee also coordinates State plans, programs, and projects which affect the timing, type, and location of development.

The Committee consists of ten members. Nine serve ex officio. One represents the Office of the Governor. The Director of Planning is the chair.

PATUXENT RIVER COMMISSION
Created in 1980, the Patuxent River Commission reviews the operation of State and local agencies in regard to the Patuxent River (Chapter 746, Acts of 1980). It provides a clearinghouse for watershed information, reviews plans, and comments on reports and development projects impacting the river. The Commission prepares the Patuxent River Policy Plan. To update the Plan, it considers draft amendments every five years. The Commission also serves as the Tributary Strategy Team for the Patuxent Watershed, coordinating the Patuxent Tributary Strategy with the Plan.

The Commission has thirty-four members. Twenty-eight are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms. Six serve ex officio (Code State Finance and Procurement Article, secs. 5-812 through 5-816).

PLANNING DATA SERVICES

Planning Data Services collects, analyzes, and publishes social, economic and geographic information for planning purposes. This office provides a data base for use by State and local government agencies, and the general public.

For each county and the City of Baltimore, projections of population, housing, public school enrollment, employment, and income are prepared. These projections are used by State and local government agencies as well as the private sector.

Planning Data Services maintains statistical data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and other information sources. Such data includes population, housing, employment, income, and education. The office also maintains a computerized system that geographically references data on the physical and cultural attributes of the State.

Planning Data Services helps maintain the State's 2,800 automated property maps and their linkage via x,y reference points to the two-million parcel database of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

This information is accessible to government agencies and the private sector on CD-ROM as MdProperty View for use with off-the-shelf viewing software and standard personal computers.

Planning Data Services oversees four units: Geographic Information Systems; Property Mapping Division; Research and State Data Center; and Systems Support.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Geographic Information Systems was organized in 1989 to provide technical assistance to State and local governments in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Assistance relates to socio-economic information, as well as natural resources and land use. This unit maintains an up-to-date electronic base map of roads and related features with street names, address ranges, and point locations of every property in the State.

PROPERTY MAPPING DIVISION

RESEARCH & STATE DATA CENTER
Formed in 1980, the Research and State Data Center provides for the development of data bases to assist in planning for the overall growth and development of the State. The Center provides information from decennial censuses and is concerned with historical and projected data on population, housing, employment, personal income, business establishments, parcels, and school enrollment. The Center works to improve access to and use of statistical data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other federal and State sources.

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

STATE & LOCAL PLANNING

State and Local Planning oversees Comprehensive Planning, and Planning Assistance and Review.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
Comprehensive Planning prepares studies and plans for the State's development. Special attention is accorded land use and growth, transportation and public infrastructure, agriculture and forest preservation, restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay, open space and recreation planning, and implementation of the Patuxent River Policy Plan.

PLANNING ASSISTANCE & REVIEW
Planning Assistance and Review began in 1989 as Local Planning Assistance and received its present name in 1994. This office is responsible for two sections: Local Planning Assistance, and Plan and Project Review.

Maryland Independent Agencies


Maryland Manual On-Line

 Maryland Manual On-Line, 1998

July 10, 1998   
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