A conversation with Bernie Fowler

As a young man in the 1950s, Bernie Fowler stood chest-deep in the Patuxent and was able to see his feet on the river bottom while netting blue crabs.

Senator Fowler held the first Patuxent “wade-in” in 1988 to assess whether he could still see his white sneakers while wading into the river.

This became known as the “Sneaker Index.”

This is a conversation with Bernie where he tells of his love for this river and his desire to see it restored for future generations.

Governor O’Malley on “the war on sprawl”

Govenor O'Malley at PlanMaryland forum

Governor O’Malley discussed PlanMaryland with The Atlantic Cities blog, which describes itself as exploring ”the most innovative ideas and pressing issues facing today’s global cities and neighborhoods.” A sample from today’s interview:

PlanMaryland isn’t something we’re doing for current residents. PlanMaryland is something we’re doing for our children. If 40 years ago we had actually implemented a statewide development plan, you might have a very different state now. You’d have a very different Baltimore city right now. You’d have a Chesapeake Bay that’s not fighting for her health year after year. This is something we have to do in order for our kids to be able to enjoy a quality of life here, and be part of this living system called the Chesapeake Bay.

Read more of Eric Jaffe’s interview.

Extreme Makeover: Sustainable Edition

New home for Johnson-Goslee family

Hard hats worthy of the cause

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” at this moment is unveiling a new home in Mardela Springs for the Johnson-Goslee family.

PlanMaryland – Getting state agencies, local governments and the private sector on the same page

The following is a reprint of a handout provided to the members of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission as part of a briefing on PlanMaryland progress at their March 28, 2011 meeting (for a PDF of this document, click here. Note: page numbers maintained from the original):

1 | P a g e

What for? Achieve Maryland’s Smart Growth goals for vibrant, desirable communities; protected agricultural and environmental lands and resources; and sustainable lifestyles and economies.

What’s the Problem? Lack of coordination and clarity among state agencies, local governments and the private sector in three ways: what they are trying to achieve, where they are trying to achieve it, and how their efforts are coordinated to be complementary and not at cross purposes.

PlanMaryland directly addresses these deficiencies.

What Are We Trying To Accomplish?, Part 4

Goal 3

Ensure that a desirable quality of life in Maryland’s communities and rural areas is sustainable.