Mayor Craig A. Moe would like to advise Laurel citizens that they can participate in an online survey regarding future growth and development in Maryland. As the City is participating directly on the State Task Force on the Future of Growth and Development for the Maryland Municipal League, this survey is accessible to all concerned citizens who wish to participate in this process.

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development in Maryland launched today a new online survey for citizens to comment on growth and development. This site follows a series of public Smart Growth Listening Sessions held in September across the state.

The Listening Sessions accommodated diverse public input on a variety of growth-related topics such as sustainable growth, a healthy environment, regional development, and transportation. They were designed like town hall meetings with open discussion on these important matters.

"Protecting our forests and agricultural land and ensuring our existing communities remain places where our citizens want to live, work, and play is a worthy and achievable goal of all stakeholders statewide," said MDP Secretary Richard E. Hall, AICP. His agency and the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development in Maryland are exploring a wide range of smart growth and land use issues affecting the state.

This new survey, called Smart Growth Listening Sessions Online, gives concerned citizens, who were unable to attend one of the scheduled sessions, the opportunity to participate in the dialogue. Those who wish to participate in the survey will visit MDP's website, www.mdp.state.md.us, and click on the icon for Smart Growth Listening Sessions Online.

Task Force Chair and partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, Jon M. Laria, said, "This web survey will further assist the Task Force in understanding citizen and community leaders' priorities and ideas.
The Task Force recognizes a broad audience for the public discussion on future growth. We must know how those affected by development feel, and consider their recommended solutions."

The Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development in Maryland was formed under House Bill 773 signed into law during the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Its 21 members are charged with studying a wide range of growth and land use issues affecting Maryland. Public input will help guide the Task Force's work.

MDP promotes growth that fosters vibrant, livable communities, preserves and protects the environment, safeguards historical and cultural resources and makes efficient use of State resources. The department also provides data, trend analysis, research assistance, and policy development and implementation support for local governments, communities, businesses, and organizations.

If you would like to participate in the survey, please click on the following link,
https://research.zarca.com//zGenericFilesAndTools/errorpage.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/clients/9934432/survey.aspx.