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By Donna De Marco
Originally published December 2007  Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Photo by Christopher Myers.
The findings are part of the recently released Draft BRAC Action Plan, a culmination of months of meetings and discussions from the governor’s BRAC Subcabinet to determine transportation, water and sewer, public school construction and higher education needs as 60,000 new jobs are expected in the state in the next several years.
“The draft BRAC Action Plan for Maryland takes the first steps toward prioritizing the infrastructure that we need as a state to protect and enhance the quality of life that we enjoy,” said Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who heads the BRAC Subcabinet.
In mid-December, the final version of the plan will be presented to the governor after public input.
The $300 million targeting the Corridor is part of nearly $800 million in projects across the state that are considered priorities in fiscal year 2008. The proposals include funding for projects in and around Fort George G. Meade, Andrews Air Force Base, National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Detrick.
“Its a good start to the state planning process,” said Bob Leib, Anne Arundel County’s special assistant for BRAC/education. “It compliments our efforts.”
Leib said many of the issues addressed in the plan affect Anne Arundel County from affordable housing to transportation needs.
“This is the basis for future planning across the state,” said Kent Menser, executive director of the BRAC office for Howard County.
The Subcabinet, which is made up of 10 state agencies, has also proposed several legislative actions as a result of BRAC.
One proposal is the creation of a special fund that will assist the state’s colleges in programs to help meet the needs of the relocated BRAC personnel, their families and contractors. Funds would be rewarded through a request for proposal process.
The Subcabinet has also proposed the idea of creating BRAC Zones, which would help revitalize areas around BRAC bases by offering incentives to employees and residents to locate there. The zones have not yet been determined but will likely be located near public transit.
In addition, the proposed legislation takes on Enhanced Use Leases (EUL), which is the development of land on military installations by private developers. The proposed legislation would require payments in lieu of taxes from the developers.
“Giving a county or state the responsibility for negotiating [a payment in lieu of taxes] with the EUL developers and military installations would promote a consistent approach statewide, allowing for the consideration of regional issues and give a county and the state more leverage in addressing its interest,” according to the Subcabinet’s proposal.
In 2005, Congress passed the BRAC initiative. In the Corridor, Fort Meade was the big winner as some 5,700 government-related jobs are expected to transfer to the base between 2012 and 2015.
“We have taken on a new role as a national leader in our homeland defense,” said Brown. “New challenges arise with new responsibility, but also new opportunities. Maryland is prepared and ready for the single-largest job creation in our state since the end of the second World War.” For a complete version of the Draft BRAC Action Plan, go to www.gov.state.md.us/brac/index.asp. |
