The Maryland Preservation Plan - 2005 - Maryland Historical Trust

The Maryland Preservation Plan, 2005(except Baltimore City) is found in Article 66B, Section 8.01-8.17 of theAnnotated Code of Maryland. The enabling clause for charter counties (exceptMontgomery and Prince George’s) is Article 25A, Section (BB), for Montgomeryand Prince George’s County is Article 28, Section 101(c), and for BaltimoreCity is Article 66B, Section 2.12. Notably, certain tax benefits areavailable to owners of locally designated historic sites and of contributingresources within locally designated historic districts. As of 2005, forty-fivejurisdictions had enacted local historic area zoning ordinances. Informationabout these communities is available on the MHT website.Both the Concord Point Lighthouse(above) in Havre de Grace and Rock RunMill (below) in Susquehanna State Parkare key sites in the Lower SusquehannaHeritage Greenway.Easton, Talbot County, was designatedas a Main Street community in November1997.The Rural Legacy Program seeks toprotect agricultural land like the JerichoFarm near Ellicott City in Howard County.Historic and Scenic RoadsHistoric and scenic roads are significant heritage resources both as keyelements of local landscapes and as tourism assets connecting cultural, historic,and natural attractions. Rural and scenic road protection programs havebecome increasingly popular in Maryland as communities haverecognized the important role historic transportation networks play in definingour sense of place. A number of local governments have surveyed their ruraland scenic roads, and in some cases implemented preservation programs,including Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery,Prince George’s, and St. Mary's counties.State and National Scenic Byways Programs, administered by the StateHighway Administration (SHA), can enhance local scenic road protectionprograms. Developed by SHA in conjunction with local tourism offices, Statescenic routes are then printed in booklet and map form for distribution. Allestablished State scenic routes are eligible to receive grant funds to produce acorridor management plan which must be developed in conjunction with localplanners, officials and residents. Local involvement is key to the nationalprogram, because there must be a provision in the county masterplan to maintainand protect the character of the route. Once the scenic route managementplan is approved, the route sponsor may apply for designation as a NationalScenic Byway. This designation makes the corridor eligible to apply for grantfunds to improve and promote the road.IV. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTINGSTATEWIDE GOALS FOR HERITAGERESOURCE CONSERVATIONThe following strategies are presented as suggestions for how State andlocal government officials, members of nonprofit organizations, and individualscan work to protect heritage resources throughout the State. These are suggestionsonly and are not intended to mandate or dictate heritage resourceconservation practice.22