Commission hears capital improvement program and 5-year plan; staff outlines water/sewer planning and land-preservation funding options

The planning commission received a briefing Nov. 13 on the county’s FY2009 capital improvement program (CIP) calendar and five-year plan and discussed coordination of infrastructure, comprehensive planning and land-preservation financing.

Elaine Kramer of the county’s CIP team opened the presentation, describing the calendar for developing the draft CIP and noting the plan calls for commission consideration of the draft in late February. Kramer said departments and the CIP group would then refine projects, timing and affordability ahead of hearings.

Commissioners' discussion focused on aligning water-and-sewer planning, comprehensive land-use updates and infrastructure investments. Commissioner comments and staff remarks framed a multi-step approach: (1) complete a METCOM facilities and capacity analysis (a $579,340 countywide public utilities line-item is in the approved budget) to identify limitations and EDUs available for shared systems; (2) use those technical findings to inform the countywide comprehensive plan amendment next year and to identify where county-led water and sewer investments should be prioritized to concentrate growth in designated areas; and (3) update the water-and-sewer plan on a regular (three-year) cycle to keep land-use and utility planning aligned.

Dennis Canavan (county staff) emphasized that the utility-analysis funds are an initial step that will inform how much development a shared system can support and where METCOM and county projects should be targeted. Commissioners and staff discussed the potential to be proactive—planning where to extend water and sewer rather than reacting to developer proposals—and noted the timing of land-use and APF (adequate public facilities) changes made the next 12–18 months an opportune time for alignment.

The commission also heard about land-preservation financing. Staff described a continued role for MALPF (Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation) and said the county is reviewing additional tools such as installment-purchase agreements (IPAs) and conservation trusts to speed easement purchases, target smaller parcels and create connectivity between preserved tracts. Kramer and county preservation staff said the county is exploring delivery mechanisms and working with bond counsel and investment advisors on IPA mechanics.

Commissioners asked for specifics on existing allocations (for example, $7 million shown for public-school land acquisition in FY2008 and additional school-site funds and county dollars available for acquisitions). Staff said some funds were budgeted and that the county and schools were evaluating large multi-use site acquisitions.

The commission also received an update on the county airport master plan: federal funding priorities now emphasize completed environmental mitigation before design and construction funds are released, so staff is using grant money to build required wetland mitigation work now; once mitigation is in place the FAA will advance design and construction funding. Staff said the mitigation work is underway and will precede runway-extension design in the CIP timeline.

Staff asked commissioners for input and suggestions to carry into the drafting of the FY2009 capital requests; commissioners stressed coordination among METCOM, public works, schools and land-preservation programs so infrastructure supports designated growth areas.