Planning commission recommends forwarding 11 MALPF easement applications amid major state funding cuts

Worcester County planning staff presented 11 farmland-easement applications under the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program and asked the commission to determine whether the proposed easement areas are compatible with the county comprehensive plan. After questions about zoning and mapping, the commission moved and approved a favorable recommendation to forward the applications to the county commissioners for final action.

The planner told commissioners the program faces an imminent funding shortfall. "They have cut 25,000,000 a year through 2029 from a program of these funds," the planner said, and added the county is certified under the program. Asked how many applications the county could realistically approve with available funding, the planner replied, "Probably 1 or 2 of them." The presentation included maps showing each property is outside proposed growth areas and that most parcels are zoned A-1 (agricultural).

Commissioners voted by voice to forward the package and public comments to the county commissioners as part of the recommendation. The commission's favorable recommendation does not itself approve the easements; the county commissioners will consider the package and available matching funds before any easement is executed.