Growing Pains

Real estate agents, farmers and others react negatively to plans in Calvert County, MD to toughen zoning regulations to control growth.

1 minute read

November 4, 2003, 2:00 PM PST

By Connie Chung


"The Calvert County Planning Commission endorsed tough zoning regulations...intended to ease the effects of population growth: traffic congestion, school crowding, greater demand for public services....Planning officials say that with thousands of homes either under construction or in plans working through the approval process, the county will be able to allow only about 3,100 new units....Calvert has been grappling with ways to control its furious pace of growth....Calvert real estate agents said that the new regulations would inflate housing costs in a county where they are already too high. A recent survey found no homes for sale priced at less than $350,000....However, at a recent public hearing, the biggest objections to the new regulations came from farmers who say changes to the county's long-standing agricultural preservation program would hamper efforts to protect their property from development."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Friday, October 31, 2003 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

Dallas Code Reform Makes Way for Missing Middle Housing

The Dallas City Council voted to change the city’s building code to allow up to eight residential units in three-story buildings.

15 minutes ago - Strong Towns

Wire sign over street "Welcome to Chinatown" in New York City.

Mahjong Game Highlights Displacement of Seniors in NYC’s Chinatown

‘Aging Out of Place’ explores the mechanisms that displace vulnerable seniors, and how the community can help preserve key resources and institutions.

1 hour ago - Next City

Banner welcoming Polish transit hub project at convention center in Berlin.

Poland Building £25B Transit Hub

The mega project will include an airport and links to high-speed rail lines.

2 hours ago - Express