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Volume XVII, Issue 1 - January 1 - January 7, 2009
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Columns |
We welcome your opinions and letters – with name and address. We will edit when necessary. Include your name, address and phone number for verification. Mail them to Bay Weekly, P.O. Box 358, Deale, MD 20751 •
E-mail them to [email protected]. or submit your letters on line, click here
Bay Gardener Works with Riverkeeper for Green Lawns
Dear Bay Weekly:
Bay Gardener Frank Gouin gave a talk to our members about caring for their lawns in a way that does less harm to the bay. The talk was well received. Those who do their own lawn care, I’m sure, will practice many of his suggestions. There are many others who use lawn service companies and aren’t sure whether the companies are using the best practices.
I have talked with Frank Gouin about getting his practices down on paper and taking it around to local lawn service companies. The idea is that those companies would agree to offer a service where they strictly observe the best practices. We would promote the arrangement. Home owners would contract with participating companies to provide the Green Lawn service.
We will be working to formalize the program beginning in early January. I anticipate that other Riverkeepers and conservation groups will want to promote the idea as well.
–Bob Gallagher: Executive Director West/Rhode Riverkeeper
Wanted: Your Ideas on Annapolis Comprehensive Plan
Dear Bay Weekly:
The Public Draft of the Annapolis Comprehensive Plan is available for review, with the public comment period ending on February 9, 2009.
The plan makes recommendations for practically all aspects of the city’s environment including: land development, redevelopment and preservation; transportation/mobility to include roads, transit, bikes and pedestrian access; city parks, public housing and housing affordability; economic development; environmental protection; and other topics including expansions of the city’s infrastructure/services delivery system. The plan centers on three themes: Community Character Economic Vitality and Greening Annapolis.
We started this dialog with Let’s Talk Annapolis in January 2006, prior to the plan’s September 2006 start date, to gather input from residents and to create a venue for them to express their vision for the future.
The Comprehensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee, five consulting firms, the Department of Planning and Zoning and representatives from other city departments were involved in the plan. Two public forums took place to gather citizen input in what became part of the final draft report.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Annapolis Comprehensive Plan for public input on February 5, 2009, in City Council Chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis.
Comments can be submitted in writing through February 9 to:
Dept. of Planning and Zoning
Attention: Planning Commission
145 Gorman Street, 3rd Floor
Annapolis, MD 21401
[email protected].
To view the plan, go to www.annapolis.gov and click on Annapolis Comprehensive Plan under Announcements.