TESTIMONY BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD: Green Infrastructure Functional Master Plan

Presented by Nancy Soreng, March 9, 2006

Good evening, I’m Nancy Soreng, President of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County. Thank you for asking the public to comment on the comprehensive plan to protect – and connect – the county’s valuable environmental resources.

The League of Women Voters arrives at positions through a process of fact gathering, discussion of issues related to the facts, and consensus development. This study and consensus building process can take place at the local, state, or national level. For the past 50 years, (or more) the League has been studying land use planning and has developed a number of positions on the topic. Our testimony tonight is based on a local study we did in 2002 on Green Infrastructure in Montgomery County.

In 2003 we reached consensus in favor of the following positions:

The use and consideration of the concept of Green Infrastructure as a criterion in the planning and zoning processes.

The inclusion of the concept of Green Infrastructure as a criterion in park acquisition and management plans.

Consideration of passageways for animal migration in the construction of new roads or intersection improvement.

Purchase of Open Space land for biodiversity hubs and corridors, using flexible funding.

Continued funding by Montgomery County of the Legacy Open Space (LOS) program.

In addition, League members, nationwide, have come to consensus in support of endeavors that “Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management, and water resources.”

The Montgomery County Planning Board has the ability to develop the networks and interconnected systems of a Green Infrastructure and to highlight the relationships between this plan and other local, county and state plans and programs. We thank you for beginning this process and urge you to approve the Outreach Strategy Report, County-wide Green Infrastructure Functional Master Plan.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight.