Development in West Anne Arundel County— Issues:
This area of the county has been targeted by county government for substantial growth. This is also the area of the county where the introduction of slots is planned and many new defense and intelligence jobs are slated. This is also an important watershed area for the Patuxent River and the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. Will we allow growth here to further degrade the river and have a negative impact on this important Federal refuge?

Natural Resources Issues
The rural character of Anne Arundel County has generally disappeared in most parts of the county. The county has lost farmland and forest cover at alarming rate. A large portion of the county is without sewer connections and many septic systems are close to county rivers. The many failing and strained septic systems, clearing of forests and development that does not contain storm water runoff have led to the pollution of all county waterways. All county rivers are deemed “impaired” and need restoration.

Fiscal Issues
Despite rampant growth in past decades and a low unemployment rate, Anne Arundel faces what some have called a “fiscal tsunami”. This assessment predates the current national financial downturn. If growth were the answer to our fiscal problems, we should have healthy surpluses-not the million plus backlogs in school maintenance and watershed restoration.

The Issues:

Growth Policy Issues:
For the last 2 decades Anne Arundel County has experienced tremendous growth. As a county with many Chesapeake Bay tributaries, this growth has had an impact on the bay. How much more growth can our County sustain? Where should growth be directed? These are questions that citizens have and are looking to the currently General Development Plan to answer. What do you want for the future?

Transportation Issues
Anne Arundel County has the unwanted distinction of having poor air quality and congestion as part of the Baltimore-Washington region that rivals Los Angeles. The County does not have a transportation department, but does provide transit for some county program participants. Without looking hard at new ways to move around our County, congestion will worsen. The peninsulas that are characteristic of the county provide challenges. Bridges over the Severn River become impassable if an accident occurs and the Route 50 corridor becomes a parking lot on many summer weekends as people make there way to an overused and aging Bay Bridge. Solving these problems will not be easy or cheap. Can we start to solve these problems now, before a true crisis arrives?