Land conservancy seeks county letter supporting Bay Bridge mitigation fund

Owen Bailey, director of land use and policy for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, briefed the board about work convening with Maryland Transportation Authority officials as the Bay Crossing study concludes phase two. Bailey said the state identified a large area of lands that could face development pressure from a Bay Bridge expansion and urged the county to back a mitigation fund for land conservation.

Bailey said the state's additional foreseeable effects document "outlined, vulnerable lands within Queen Anne's, Talbot, and Caroline County" and cited approximately "111,000 acres" the state identified as at risk. He asked the board for a letter of support so the state could establish a mitigation fund and coordinate with the three counties on how funds would be distributed and administered.

The chair invited the county to consider the request and noted details would be worked out in coordination with the counties if the state moves forward. Commissioners did not take a final vote on a letter during the meeting; Bailey asked for the board's support in principle and said other specifics would be determined later.