Eastern Shore Land Conservancy presents land‑value analysis showing Dorchester County at high risk from sea‑level rise

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy presented a regional analysis to the Dorchester County Council on Tuesday showing that traditional, compact downtowns generate far higher property tax value per acre than sprawling suburban development and that projected sea‑level rise presents a major fiscal challenge to county budgets.

Owen Bailey, director of land use and policy at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, told the council the organization has mapped “value per acre” across the Eastern Shore to compare how different land uses — big‑box retail, single‑family subdivisions, townhomes, multifamily and historic downtown cores — contribute property tax revenue relative to land area. "Our historic downtowns, our inner cores, our mixed‑use walkable spaces are by far much more productive than the more suburban…