In talking with Glen Burnie area residents, I have heard loud and clear that our community wants to see real change. Change that includes turning vacant properties into vibrant businesses, reducing barriers to smart growth, and creating a sustainable community.

These are not new or unwarranted concerns. In fact, the community has been engaged for over a decade (and longer) on these issues. For example, the 2004 Glen Burnie Small area plan outlined many recommendations for community improvements. These recommendations have mostly been relegated to the file drawer rather than see implementation.

That’s why on July 20, I introduced Bill 64-20 that focuses on revitalizing the Glen Burnie area. In response to the most pressing needs of our community, this legislation is multi-faceted. Some of the bill’s key provisions include:

Promoting flexibility and creativity for redevelopment projects;
Encouraging and facilitating redevelopment of older, underutilized, deteriorated properties in Glen Burnie, primarily along key commercial corridors (Crain Highway, Ritchie Highway, and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard);
Incentivizing community enhancements; and
Requiring a high level of community input at the early stages of project planning.
I began this process by looking at the Glen Burnie Sustainable Community designation and mapped area. This is a Maryland State designated area designed to promote sustainability and revitalization strategies.

Per the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development website: “Sustainable Communities has provided local governments with a framework for promoting environmentally, economically and socially responsible growth and development in existing older communities.”

Source: Capital Gazette
Read the full article at: https://www.capitalgazette.com/opinion/columns/ac-ce-column-allison-pickard-20200907-vjiccc4ohjfwjhwrhyu2ypy2b4-story.html