Jim Lyons: There’s a clear choice on how to maintain Anne Arundel’s environmental health on Election Day

The health of our lands, waterways and environment is essential to the health of our communities and economies. This election will determine how we grow and, ultimately, whether we choose to live even better in the best places.

Anne Arundel County Executive Stuart Pittman protected our environment from the beginning. Manage growth better. Prepare citizens and businesses to prioritize the impacts of climate change.

First, he established the position of Environmental Advisor and Citizens Environmental Commissioner, providing expert advice and civic input to decisions affecting how and where the county grows.

Pittman then focused on protecting the county’s remaining forests and glades. Under Shu’s administration, the county lost more than 2,500 acres of his forest. This is the largest loss of any urbanized county in Maryland. To repair the damage, Pittman suggested protecting the remaining forest and requiring developers to replace the forest they cut down. The county tree ordinance served as a model for other counties. Pittman and his team then worked with the county council to maintain and restore greenways, and he also developed a “green infrastructure” plan to protect 5,000 acres of forest and open space.

The Pittman administration has launched Plan 2040, a new citizen-led plan to guide the future development of the county, which has won Maryland’s Sustainable Growth Award. Plan 2040 offers the community an opportunity to frame future development through a more transparent and inclusive process. Updates to the County’s Forest Conservation Strategy, Green Infrastructure Plan, and Land Conservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (to provide more parks, recreational facilities, and access to nature) are more transparent and balanced for future development. establish the foundation for a balanced approach. .

To limit the impact on waterways, Pittman created a “blue notice” to stop contaminated runoff from construction sites. He ended staff-approved amendments to building requirements, stressing that zoning changes “should reflect community-driven planning.” He then stopped the enclave at Crofton and stopped development at Glebe He Heights on the Mayo Peninsula.

The county partnered with Watershed Stewards Academy to launch RePlant Anne Arundel and RePlant Annapolis to restore trees lost to development across the county. The program involved approximately 1,000 residents, including some of Annapolis’ most disadvantaged neighborhoods, and planted 11,000 trees.

Pittman expanded the Quiet Water Park and Bacon Ridge Natural Area with hiking and biking trails. The acquisition of Crownsville Hospital provides new opportunities to expand access to nature and outdoor recreation.

To repair past damage to rivers and streams, the County’s Watershed Protection and Restoration Program partnered with local conservation groups to treat approximately 4,000 acres of impermeable surfaces and restore approximately 6 miles of creeks. restored. Federal and state assistance to offset county costs. The Department of Public Works has significantly reduced nitrogen pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay. This will save taxpayers $8 million by 2025.

To address the existential threat of climate change, Pittman issued an executive order committing the county to purchasing 100% renewable energy by 2030. With the approval of the county council, he created a public-private partnership to build a solar power plant on his now-closed Glenn Burnie Landfill. He generates energy at a fixed price that brings the county more than $3 million in lease payments and taxpayers he saves $6.75 million.

Working with Mayor Gavin Buckley, Senator Sarah Elfreth and the Dells. Ron Watson and Brooke Lierman, Pittman founded the Resilience Authority to fund projects to reduce the cost of climate mitigation for counties and cities. This innovative public-private partnership was highlighted by Moody’s raising the county’s bond rating to AAA. The higher the bond rating, the lower the future borrowing costs.

Creativity, coordination, and collaboration were hallmarks of the Pittman administration. Working with residents, community and business leaders, county councils, new governors and legislators, Pittman and his team will make The Greatest Place even better over the next four years.

Edgewater resident Jim Lyons was the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment.