Baltimore County’s “current” URDL boundaries (unchanged since 1969) certainly seem arbitrary & gerrymandered, not based on science or sound land use planning. Areas next to shopping plazas, schools, golf courses, commuter infrastructure, etc are sometimes outside the URDL & sometimes inside.

O say can you see! The show must go on!

“Smart Growth” or dumb exclusionary zoning? Like Baltimore Co, Howard County allows development of minor subdivisions w/ faux-estates w/ huge McMansions on one acre lots & septic in its western half, supposedly set aside to preserve farms. But modest, compact, climate friendly housing is illegal.

Difficult to overstate the impact Susan Goering had on Baltimore & MD as the architect of challenges to the status quo of school finance, housing segregation, zero tolerance policing & Black voting power on the EShore. She came to MD & saw complacency w/ inequity & knew we could Be More.

Seen from space, see how suburban subdivisions built on greenfields sprawl across the lower third of the Baltimore Co URDL. If the URDL’s intent was preserving the environment here it hasnt done a very good job. Instead we see wasteful land use use on polluting septic by top 10% at expense of 90%.

Most completed new housing built in Baltimore City (& significant share of metro) is in former industrial areas of White L like here in Brewers Hill next to old Natty Boh plant. Thousands of pricey new apartments & these modern 4-level rowhouses. 100%market rate, built under waivers of prior IH law

Was this area of Reisterstown farm or forest before Baltimore Co designated adjacent Owings Mills a Growth Area & I-795 & Metro built? It clearly wasnt when elite Caves Valley Golf club & these suburban cul de sacs were built w/ big houses on 1-2 acre lots & septic. So why still outside the URDL?

Why? “Easy access to Hunt Valley, Oregon Ridge Park & seamless commute up or down I-83” but outside Baltimore Co URDL: LEGAL: Subdivisions w/ 7BR 5BA 6000 sq ft 3 car garage $1.5M homes on 1 acre & septic. ILLEGAL: Any kind of duplex, multifamily, rowhouse, or starter home on 1/4 acre for mid-class

Is there a better linear park in any US city than the Baltimore Harbor Promenade? 7.5 miles of uninterrupted public access to the water’s edge from Federal Hill to Canton. But much of it >40 yrs old w/ some sections in need of attention.

Mark I previously posted my thoughts on this in reply to Brian Hanlon. I think it illustrates my concern. You have candidates there but neither cayimby, nor the candidates frankly, had anything to be say about stepping up state investment in Affordable Housing programs.

One of the early adaptive use projects in Baltimore. I believe a UDAG grant was used to convert this old canning factory on Fells Point waterfront into Thames Street Apartments. Tindeco Wharf, nearby in Canton, a similar project. Both still rentals.

So few? It depends. Not the case in NJ or Mass. Thats an unwarranted over generalization. See recent Mass study pf Ch 40B. Heres a recent For Sale 40B project in FalmouthMA w/ Affordable units selling for $285k, next door to market rate for $950k.

A newer segment of Baltimore’s well loved 7+ mile harbor front Promenade. It was built in 1970-80’s era of plentiful federal funding. But now its aging & water levels are rising. Who is going to pay for upgrades & repairs at Harborplace? Other areas?

Whats wrong with this picture?! And its the tennis team FFS, not wrestling.

Probably not allowed by HOA. I love the way this rowhouse n-hood in Baltimore has takennthe liberty to tirn the sidewalk into a patio!

How does Maryland’s idea of Smart Growth make sense? This is western HoCo just outside the growth boundary—conveniently located pocked w/ suburban subdivisions of $2M 9000 sq ft McMansions on one acre lots & septic w/ 6.5 bathrooms & 5 car garage. But modest, compact housing not allowed

You can give these suburban subdivisions outside the Baltimore Co URDL names like “Long Farm.” But they are not farms & you are not preserving anything but the privilege that plops 8,000 sq ft McMansions w/ 3 garages, 5 bedrooms & 8 bathrooms on 1.2 acre lots.

Baltimore Harbor. First sunset of Daylight Savings Time.

What about this land use outside Baltimore County’s URDL says land conservation? Environmentalism?Large homes on 2 acre lots & septic looks more like chopping up farms or forest. A classic pattern of exclusionary zoning.

FWIW: These modern rowhouses in Baltimore are quite cool. But they are not at all affordable when located in historically & still white n-hoods & selling for $800,000 And replicate the segregation of surrounding n-hoods.

Even those who favor the idea of URDL for northern Baltimore Co have to agree the 1967 growth boundary should be periodically reviewed & adjusted to fit current conditions. Here is close-in Falls Road corridor, developed w/suburban subdivisions for the wealthy. Why still outside the URDL on septic?

These light colored areas are suburban developments dotted w/ houses on 1+ acre lots & septic outside the URDL. Close to Beltway & I-83, Light Rail, dense Mays Chapel & described as “one of the areas most desirable luxury corridors.” Makes no planning sense these areas are not w/in the URDL & sewers

If the URDL is about protection of the watershed, how do permits get granted to build McMansions on septic, literally on the shores of Loch Raven Reservoir? In the Gunpowder flood plane no less? Touting both the “rural” charm created by exclusion & close proximity to suburban amenities & downtown?

Baltimore “ middle density” rowhouse streetscape. The block has a seamless blend of modern 4 story industrial style rowhouses with traditional 100+ year old 3 story rowhouses.

Army-Navy Game, Baltimore.

Baltimore. These December sunsets come so early but they are beautiful.

Your graph shows a median or average? Because all the data shows variation by income cohort, race, state etc w/ most vulnerable populations experiencing most severe burdens. Even high burden in Texas despite relatively high levels of production there.

Does this Western HoCo (Glenelg) n-hood of single family McMansions on one acre lots outside the PFA growth boundary look like Smart Growth to you? Or does it look like (mis)use of land use regulation to create a sprawling zone of affluence conveniently located midway between DC & Baltimore?

#Falmouth MA takes No Kings seriously: On this day in 1775 Falmouth was bombed & burned by the British for saying No Kings!

See all those white dots? Those are big houses on 2 acre lots & septic in a “desirable” suburban type n-hood of Owings Mills. OM was designated by Baltimore Co as a “Growth Area” circa 1980 w/ huge public $ spent on Metro & I-795. So why is this eastern side of OM still outside the URDL & w/o sewer?