Powhatan Park

"… [F]reedom to explore and play with the outdoor environment through the senses in their own space and time is essential for healthy development [of children]."

(R. Louv. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder). AND YET, we know that 65% of residences inside the URDL lack access to adequate open space within a 5-minute walk.

A Digest of Open Space Legislation, Laws, Policies & Related Materials

MATERIALS PREPARED FOR THE COUNTY LOCAL OPEN SPACE STANDARDS WORK GROUP

Getting Our Open Space House In Order: A Position Paper for Candidates in 2022

August 2022

How Cars and Greed Turned the Suburbs Gray & What Can be Done to Green Them Again

September 2021

LAWS, REGULATIONS, & POLICY DOCUMENTS

County Code, Adequate Public Facilities, Open Space, Section 32-6-108

The Local Open Space Manual

The current, properly enacted LOS manual. The Planning Board approved a newer manual in 2017, but it was not submitted to the Council as the law requires. The LOS manual acts as an implementing regulation for Section 32-6-108.

Resolution 86-21 LOS New Waiver Fee Schedule

Bill 37-19

Removes parking island & private amenity loopholes

Bill 92-18

Amends Section 32-6-108 to remove the operating spending cap for NeighborSpace

Resolution 87-16

New fee schedule to accommodate Downtown Towson

Bill 83-16

Changed when open space details are submitted from concept plan to development plan presentation.

Bill 73-16

A complete re-write of the open space law, affecting several other sections of the code, as well

Resolution 90-15

Establishes new fees for BMCT, ML & RAE (they had paid no fees up to this point per a 2000 resolution)

Resolution 89-15

Asks Planning Board to Review Open Space Needs

Resolution 44-13

Asks Planning Board to review open space needs, fee policies and fees

Planning Board Response to Resolution 44-13

Resolution 43-13

Dramatically Reduces LOS Fees

TESTIMONY, FACT SHEETS, & PRESENTATIONS

Testimony on Resolution 86-21

2021 Fee Schedule

Impact of Residential Development on Adequacy of Open Space Since November 2016

NS Analysis, November 2020

Fact Sheet on Loophole Bill

August 2019

NeighborSpace/GTA Testimony on Bill 73-16

Presentation to the Commission on Environmental Quality (10/21/2015)

Principles & Recommendations on Revisions to the Open Space Waiver Fee System

NS Testimony on 2015 Planning Board Response to Resolution 44-13

MBIA Testimony on 2015 Planning Board Response to Resolution 44-13

ARTICLES FROM PERIODICALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, & BLOGS

State Parks Commission is Good But Locals Must Do Their Part

September 2021

Bluestem development violates requirements

M. Fetting, Balt. Sun Op. Ed., 8/21/2019

Baltimore County lets developers count parking islands as open space. A new bill could change that.

A. Knezevich, Baltimore Sun, 8/19/2019

Urban Green Space: An Important But Widely Misunderstood Amenity

K. Philipsen, Community Architect Daily, 8/7/2019

2018-10-6

Open Space Waiver Fee Accountability in Baltimore County: A History

2016 Oct.

Local Open Space Waiver Fees Central to Park Slated to Break Ground on Nov. 8

2015-12-22

Developers to Pay More for Open Space in Towson

2015-10-20

Baltimore County Council Vote on Fees Delayed Again

2015-10-13

Baltimore County Council again Considers Open Space Fee Changes for Towson

2015-9-21

Open Space Debate Continues in Baltimore County

2015-6-1

Baltimore County Residents Urge Greater Open Space Fees for Developers

2015-5-29

Baltimore County Council to Consider New eveloper Fees for Open Space

2015-4-3

Planning Board Passes Fee Matter on to Council

2015-4-3

Reshaping Growth Centers with Open Space (Community Architect)

2015-3-24

As Towson Grows, Resients Push for More Open Space

2015-3-19

Towson Residents Plead for More Open Space Money

2015-2-20

Reinventing the Suburbs: Towson, MD (Community Architect)

The Economic Benefits of Seattle's Park & Recreation System (March 2011)

Parks deliver municipal revenues of $19.2 million, savings of $12.4 million

Powhatan Park

"… [F]reedom to explore and play with the outdoor environment through the senses in their own space and time is essential for healthy development [of children]."

(R. Louv. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder). AND YET, we know that 65% of residences inside the URDL lack access to adequate open space within a 5-minute walk.

A Digest of Open Space Legislation, Laws, Policies & Related Materials

MATERIALS PREPARED FOR THE COUNTY LOCAL OPEN SPACE STANDARDS WORK GROUP

Getting Our Open Space House In Order: A Position Paper for Candidates in 2022

How Cars and Greed Turned the Suburbs Gray & What Can be Done to Green Them Again

Mapping Livability in Baltimore County

Mapping the Open Space Deficit in Baltimore County

Open Space Planning Principles

A Primer on Adequate Public Facilities Laws

Research Conducted in Connection with County Open Space Standards Work Group

Table Showing County Open Space Ordinance Provisions & Their Challenges

The Unique History Behind Baltimore County's Open Space Challenges: A Podcast

Why Put Principles First?

LAWS, REGULATIONS, & POLICY DOCUMENTS

TESTIMONY, FACT SHEETS, & PRESENTATIONS

ARTICLES FROM PERIODICALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, & BLOGS