History of Master Planning

Baltimore County began launching growth management policies in the 1960s. The master plans and their landmark programs are essential to maintaining the sustainable development for economic well-being, public health and safety, education, and resource preservation throughout County communities, and have made the County nationally and internationally renowned.

URBAN-RURAL DEMARCATION LINE

In 1967, the Planning Board approved to establish the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL), maximizing the efficiency of County revenues on infrastructure in urban areas and preserving important natural and agricultural resources in rural areas.

THE 1975 PLAN

The 1975 Plan introduces the design approach to the new area development, encouraging the maximum densities that the market will support and promoting the highest possible degree of pedestrian and bicycle circulation. The long-term urban growth is anticipated only in the areas of Windlass, Mays Chapel, Liberty and Owings Mills. The adequate public facilities legislation would determine the timing of development in these areas.

THE 1980 PLAN

The 1980 Plan advises that the most intensive residential and commercial development take place in sector town centers where access is or will be optimized by such facilities as ring roads and rapid transit stations. The plan also suggests that the County increase the industrial inventory in the Southeast and Western sectors to take advantage of their locations within the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

THE 1984 PLAN FOR OWINGS MILLS

The 1984 Plan for Owings Mills encourages developers to cooperate with the County in locating and staging projects through integrated controls and incentives. Residential development in the moderate to high density is concentrated around the town center and transportation facilities. The town center itself provides intensive, mixed-use commercial and office development. The plan recommends the strong office and industrial development market and adequate infrastructure necessary to create jobs. View the 1984 Owings Mills Land Use Plan map.

THE 1990 PLAN

The 1990 Plan recommends county goals for town centers and new development areas, including Owings Mills and White Marsh, promoting quality commercial, office and high-density residential development within town centers.

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3
• Volume 4
• Volume 5
• Volume 6

THE 2000 PLAN

The 2000 Plan accentuates on maintaining flexibility to respond to opportunities and problems as they arise. The Plan created land management areas for urban and rural portions of the county. The intent is to achieve a balanced development in designated growth and community conservation areas and preserve agricultural activities and natural resources outside the URDL.  

THE 2010 PLAN

The 2010 Plan carries on principles of previous plans and integrates land use issues with social and economic factors. The plan endorses planning policies that are consistent with Priority Funding Areas (PFAs) and the Rural Legacy Program mandated by the 1997 Maryland Smart Growth legislation and its principles.

THE 2020 PLAN

The 2020 Plan envisions a sustainable development in the County and calls for compact, walkable, mixed-use, transit-oriented development along commercial corridors or at underutilized properties. The Plan designates the Middle River Redevelopment Area in eastern Baltimore County because of emerging development activities and future opportunities for prosperity. The Maryland legislature required in 2006 (HB 1141) that a Water Resources Element (WRE) be included in local land use plans. A detailed WRE and associated technical memos were submitted to the Maryland Department of Planning as part of the 2020 Plan.

THE 2030 PLAN

Master Plan 2030 represents the culmination of a two-year master-planning process which began in spring 2021 and included community outreach and public input phases, recommendations from local experts, stakeholders and County agencies, as well as, deliberation and coordination among numerous County agencies and Department of Planning staff.

Using “Sustaining Places: Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans,” published by the American Planning Association (APA) as a guide, the Department of Planning developed a framework that intends to create “livable, healthy communities in harmony with nature—communities that have resilient economies, social equity, and strong regional ties.” Master Plan 2030 is based on a “systems approach,” with three interwoven themes and six guiding principles. Three interwoven themes in Master Plan 2030 are equity, sustainability and vibrant communities. These themes run throughout the plan elements, influencing the goals and actions that are found in the Master Plan 2030 vision framework.

Perhaps the most notable change in the 2030 plan, compared to Master Plan 2020, is a new focus on redevelopment. The prevailing sentiment was that Baltimore County stands at a cross-roads. The availability of developable land in the County continues to be a challenge, particularly for in-fill development in areas within the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL); our water and sewer infrastructure are aging; our transit system needs modernization; our housing supply struggles to meet demand; and our commercial areas require a different perspective than what was used in the past. Master Plan 2030 introduces the concept of retrofitting whereby traditional planning principles such as density, walkability and public space are used help redevelopment fit into the well-established patterns and structures of the modern suburban-built environment. Master Plan 2030 utilizes a data-driven method woven together with community sentiment to identify areas that are most suitable for retrofitting and establishes goals to make these core retrofit areas—or Nodes—the primary focus for redevelopment and investment over the next decade, while also supporting the necessary infrastructure for this approach.

Learn more about implementation of Master Plan 2030 and view the the Plan in an interactive format on the Master Plan 2030 Hub site.