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For Immediate Release: April
30, 2010
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ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 30, 2010) -
Governor Martin O'Malley today announced the creation of the
Highway Access Permit Stakeholder Review Group to streamline
the process for granting access permits to connect new
developments to Maryland's highways. The Governor has
appointed 22 members statewide to bring together expertise
from various stakeholders, including local planners,
developers and economic development officials. Because
the permitting process is critical to growing Maryland's
economy, Governor O'Malley has tapped Secretary Christian
Johansson of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic
Development to chair the new task force.
"Maryland's transportation network is a critical tool for
local businesses and an essential driver for the State's
economy," said Governor O'Malley. "The Highway
Access Permit Process is the key to providing new businesses
and developments access to that network. While this
process is important to maintaining the safety and operational
integrity of our highway system, this new Review Group has
been tasked with revamping the process to ensure that it is
business-friendly by making it transparent, timely and
predictable."
"Our agency doesn't have a monopoly on good ideas,"
said Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley.
"We want these experts to challenge our
assumptions."
The Stakeholder Review Group includes real estate developers,
engineers, county planners and economic development officials,
as well as representatives from environmental agencies and the
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The
complete list of appointed members is attached.
"I look forward to leading this Task Force, which will
make it easier for businesses to do business in
Maryland," said Secretary Johansson.
"Providing clear direction and guidance to developers on
submission requirements and better coordinating the approval
process between all agencies involved will help to grow
Maryland's economy and create jobs."
The Stakeholder Review Group will meet four times between May
and September 2010 and will provide its final report and
recommendations by September 15. The members will
identify key steps to make the entire process more efficient.
The review will include:
- assessing the current procedures;
- reviewing best practices nationwide;
- developing recommendations, potentially including new
policies, procedures, regulations and
- legislation; and
- considering the use of technology, including a web-based
tracking system for businesses to track the review process
of individual permit applications.
State
Highway Access Stakeholder Review Group Members
Chairman: Christian Johansson -
Secretary, Maryland Department of Business and Economic
Development
Edward Adams, Jr. - Director, Department of Public Works,
Baltimore County
Gregory Africa - President, County Engineer Association of
Maryland
Douglas Austin - President, Urban Policy Development, LLC
Tom Balentine - Vice President, National Association of
Industrial & Office Properties
Ramon Benitez - Senior Project Manager, RB Estates, LLC
Gregory Bowen - Director, Department of Planning and Zoning,
Calvert County
Thomas S. "Toby" Bozzuto, Jr. - Executive Vice
President, Bozzuto Development Company
Glenn Cook - Vice President, The Traffic Group
Stuart Foard - Land Development Team, Merritt Properties
Kathleen Maloney - Principal, Maloney and Associates,
representing of the Home Builders Association of Maryland
Kim Morgan - Vice President of Land Development, The Tech
Group, Inc.
Ken Pensyl - Program Manager, Sediment, Stormwater and Dam
Safety, Maryland Department of the Environment
Torrence Pierce - Vice President, Frederick Ward &
Associates
Tom Pilon - Vice President/Development, St. John Properties,
Inc.
Fern Piret - Director, Department of Planning, Prince George's
County
John Reardon - Chief Operating Officer, Facchina Development,
LLC
Elliott Schlanger - Secretary, Department of Information
Technology
Cole Schnorf - Senior Vice President and Director of
Development, Manekin, LLC
Andrew J. Scott - Special Assistant to the Secretary, Maryland
Department of Transportation
Nancy Slepicka - Principal, O'Malley, Miles, Nylen &
Gilmore
Larry Twele - Director, Department of Economic Development,
Carroll County
Contacts:
Karen Glenn Hood
DBED
410-767-6318
Erin Henson
MDOT
410-865-1028
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