Reisterstown Community Invites Public To Comment On Sustainable Community Designation Renewal At Open House Even

REISTERSTOWN - The Reisterstown community is set to hold an Open House for its Sustainable Community designation renewal on Wednesday, June 7th, between 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. This event is part of the community's endeavor to renew its Sustainable Community (SC) designation and seeks community input on a comprehensive 5-year Sustainable Community Plan.

The Open House will feature six interactive stations on the environment, transportation, housing, economy, quality of life, and local planning. County agency representatives and community leaders will be present to guide attendees through the activities, providing additional resources, materials, and insights.

The SC designation is a gateway to several revitalization programs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development offers. The Community Legacy Program and the Strategic Demolition Fund provide an extensive support suite, including housing enhancements, community development, local transportation improvements, tax credit programs, and environment-friendly initiatives.

These resources are designed to create safer, healthier, and more appealing communities that encourage growth. The SC renewal application evaluation will be based on the reported achievements and a comprehensive analysis of local strengths and weaknesses. The review will also consider how well the desired outcomes, strategies, and action steps are connected to local conditions.

To be considered, all Sustainable Community applications must meet specific threshold requirements. These include the Sustainable Community Area boundaries being entirely within a Priority Funding Area (PFA), and the area should require renewal and reinvestment that would benefit from a long-term targeted strategy.

The proposed Sustainable Community should also be within or near a town or transportation center, or financial assistance should be needed for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, or microenterprises. Additionally, the updated Plan must align with other existing community or comprehensive plans.

A Sustainable Communities Workgroup must be re-convened, and a roster of members must be provided with the application. Applications failing to meet these threshold requirements will not be considered.

This Open House is a significant opportunity for community members to voice their priorities and contribute to their community's holistic development.