Annexation
     Each Maryland county should have the authority to regulate all municipal annexations within the county. ’05

Growth Management
     We urge local control of any growth management programs and zoning regulations within our state. ’07
     Smart Growth standards for urban areas are not always appropriate for rural counties. Different standards need to be adopted for eligibility for state funds for infrastructure in rural counties. ’08
     We believe no program (or parts of a program) should be adopted until we review and evaluate the accumulative impact of all of our present programs. We need to know the inter-relationship of all the legislation and regulations dealing with growth management such as the Chesapeake Bay critical area law; the Nontidal Wetland Protection Act; federal, state, and local resource protection programs; the agricultural land preservation program; Program Open Space; and the reforestation law passed by the General Assembly. ’05
     We support a requirement for local governments to consider the impact of new development on water resources and current users. Development should not be allowed to surpass the level of water resources. ’07
     Any comprehensive plan must recognize private property rights. If a landowner's property rights are diminished, he/she should be justly compensated. ‘06
     We support public and private programs that improve the livability of urban areas and attract residents to those urban areas. '02
     We encourage each county to develop an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) that would properly regulate the growth in each county. ’05

Permitting
     We support the continued exemption of agriculturally zoned properties from building permits and inspections for agricultural uses as permitted in the zoning code. We further support the inclusion of specific language in the building code to permit public access to existing, structurally sound, nonresidential buildings without mandated upgrades to the full current codes. ‘05

Reverse Set-backs & Buffers
     We urge county planners to require protective measures for farmland, such as reverse setbacks, buffers, fencing, etc. for new non-agricultural uses occurring adjacent to existing agricultural operations. ’06

Zoning
     We recognize the concern of historical and environmental preservationists in their efforts to preserve such land areas against further development. However, the landowners involved should not be required to suffer a loss in the equity of their land to land-use criteria changes. Any change in zoning or regulations that would cause loss of equity in land shall provide for just compensation to the landowner. Therefore, there should be no down zoning on agriculture land. ’07
     Zoning regulations should be determined at the local, not state level.’08
     We are opposed to Regional Planning Authorities. ’08
     Furthermore, these powers should not be delegated to the state by either legislation or default. ’08