Johnston: Green Infrastructure Master Plan balances growth, conservation

In May 2019, County Executive Steuart Pittman penned the following memo to the county’s Office of Planning and Zoning: “Protection of the environment is vital to the quality of life, health and economic vitality of Anne Arundel County residents, and is a foundational tenant of this Administration.” Since the date of that memo, Anne Arundel County has consistently charted a new, balanced course with respect to land use planning. Gone are the times of unchecked urban sprawl that led to deforested landscapes, burdened infrastructure and polluted streams. Over the past three years, Pittman has laid the groundwork for a different kind of future that balances growth in the right places for the right reasons with protections of our open spaces.