Department of Planning BRAC Mission Statement

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) will provide information and services that improve the ability of Federal, State and local government to support BRAC-related growth in Maryland that is consistent with Smart Growth policies. MDP seeks to ensure that BRAC-related growth occurs in a manner that will enhance the State’s ability to preserve our natural resources, enhance the vitality of older neighborhoods, increase the State’s return on infrastructure investment by encouraging new development within Priority Funding Areas, and provide web-enabled, BRAC-related information and services to the public.

Overview

Maryland is nationally known as a leader in planning and Smart Growth policy and practice. It is one of only a handful of states that has a statewide planning agency to coordinate land-use policies that in Maryland include strong support for Smart Growth and its principles. These principles include providing a mix of land uses—creating places for people to live, work and play within easy walking distance. Maryland Smart Growth principles also encourage communities to provide a range of housing opportunities, including multi-family, townhouses and single-family homes in a manner that truly promotes the development of diverse communities.

Unique to Maryland’s Smart Growth program is the ground-breaking use of Priority Funding Areas (PFAs). Through partnerships with State and local governments, the local governments throughout the state designate areas where there is existing or planned infrastructure to concentrate future development. In turn, the State will only provide growth-related funding to projects located inside of these areas designated by the local governments. This contributes to the reduction of development pressure on the State’s remaining farmland and other environmentally sensitive lands. It is anticipated that approximately 85% of the households moving to Maryland due to BRAC are expected to locate within areas designated as PFAs by 2015. The PFA approach, provides a powerful tool to help the State protect its natural resources while focusing the development of diverse communities in areas where appropriate and desired.

BRAC represents a significant number of new jobs and households over the next four years. In general, Maryland has been planning for projected growth of over 500,000 households and an increase in population of over 1,100,000 between 2005 and 2030. BRAC influx into the state will bring the first pieces of this anticipated growth. BRAC represents approximately 13% of the anticipated household growth from 2005 through 2015 for the nine BRAC jurisdictions. Maryland is poised to leverage this opportunity by revitalizing its existing neighborhoods and building new vibrant communities where residents can take advantage of nearby public transportation and walking to work.

Maryland is working to ensure that the opportunity that BRAC presents will be sustainable and supportive of statewide economic development that further improves our quality of life and stands the test of time. Our State will continue to support strong land use principles that will in turn make BRAC growth “smart growth”.

Strengths/Challenges

Maryland’s exceptional quality of life was a significant factor in the 2005 BRAC decisions. The State has continued to prepare for the expected influx of more BRAC- related jobs than any other State. The majority of these jobs (94% or 15,300 direct jobs and 27,000 indirect and induced jobs) are expected to be located within the 10 jurisdictions that make up the BRAC-impacted areas. While it is not certain at this time exactly how many total jobs will be generated, some estimates indicate that the number could vary between 40,000 and 60,000. The sheer number of those moving to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort George G. Meade, Andrews Air Force Base, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, as well as those moving to Fort Detrick into non-BRAC jobs, will present a number of planning opportunities and challenges to Maryland.

With its solid relationships with county and municipal governments and the State’s solid Smart Growth policies, the State and local governments have been able to focus new development into areas where public services and infrastructure already exist. Knowing where growth is planned presents the State with the opportunity to evaluate and plan for where most of those relocating to Maryland will want to live, shop and send their children to school. State agencies are working in partnership to ensure that the needs for schools, roads, housing and redevelopment are being addressed as part of the State’s BRAC Plan of Action.

MDP offers expertise to local government in the form of data, analysis and technical planning assistance through its professional planning staff. These services support land-use planning, zoning, and urban design. MDP maintains data resources for housing, population and socio-economic and analysis tools. MDP will provide accurate and timely data and information to key decision makers, stakeholders and the public to ensure that growth (including BRAC-related growth) occurs in a manner that does not overwhelm our roads, schools and public facilities. State agencies will also develop the means to measure performance as it relates to BRAC readiness through a “BRACStat” process modeled after StateStat.

BRAC impact on school capacities are another challenge that Maryland will face and these potential impacts are already being addressed. The State has developed and continues to evaluate a well rounded approach to addressing BRAC impacts on Maryland’s schools. As more information becomes available regarding federal agency movements local jurisdictions, as well as State agencies, are evaluating steps that may need to be taken to assist the Local Educational Agencies (LEA’s). One of the top priorities is the equitable distribution of Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding throughout the State and fulfillment of State commitments for providing equal educational opportunities. Maryland State agencies and the LEAs are committed to effectively analyzing BRACrelated enrollment increments and to phase enrollment and capacity needs over several years in order to meet projected school needs brought on by BRAC.

Plan of Action and Methodology

The Maryland Department of Planning has developed a strategy for accommodating and sustaining the incoming BRAC growth for the State. This plan of action will support local governments in a manner that is consistent with Smart Growth and will contribute to creating sustainable communities while measuring the impact of BRAC on our local jurisdictions.

BRACStat Metrics: The State will develop the metrics in order to measure its performance as it relates to BRAC readiness through a “BRACStat” process. BRACStat is an accountability tool utilizing data, information, computer mapping and accountability sessions to define and refine methods that ensure efficient, responsive and effective government.

Utilization of Smart Growth Tools for BRAC: BRAC provides local jurisdictions with economic opportunities to revitalize older areas and promote higher density development near public rail transportation. The State will provide a flexible mechanism such as form-based codes, which are a mechanism for regulating development to achieve a specific urban design. The State will also provide other Smart Growth tools such as Design Teams that are available to work with local BRAC-impacted communities in demonstrating design options for lands under consideration for high density, pedestrian and transit oriented development.

The State will also utilize other tools to address growth issues such as the Governor’s Smart Growth Subcabinet, which is chaired by the Secretary of Planning.

BRAC

"BRAC" is an acronym that stands for Base Realignment and Closure. It is the congressionally authorized process Department of Defense has previously used to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business. The most recent iteration of base realignment was enacted as federal law in November 2005 as is known as BRAC 2005.

In response to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions, Governor Martin O’Malley and the State of Maryland received the tremendous honor of being asked to accommodate a significant expansion of the United States military installations. As a result, Maryland would become the future home to thousands of our country’s federal civilian and military families.

With the arrival of new residents, jobs, and national defense and security activities associated with this expansion, Maryland has both an enormous opportunity and a substantial obligation. BRAC will bring to the State the myriad of benefits that flow from significant job growth, increased economic activity, and the enrichment of our communities by new workers and families. At the same time, it will pose the challenges of providing the additional infrastructure, housing, education, and economic development necessary to support BRAC, and of reaping the benefits of expansion without compromising Marylanders’ quality of life.

In January 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley convened the BRAC Subcabinet who are charged with coordinating state and local government and working in partnership to address the issues associated with BRAC.

Several publications that address BRAC in Maryland are available. The 2007 State of Maryland’s BRAC Action Plan Report outlines the BRAC Subcabinet’s goals and timeline for addressing the challenges associated with the State’s future increase in population and expansion. BRAC Stat charts the agencies’ progress at it relates to the BRAC Action Plan’s timeline, and the 2008 Progress Report highlights the accomplishments made by the BRAC Subcabinet in relation to the 2007 BRAC Action Plan.