People who do not own cars are hindered in carrying out simple, everyday activities. This isolation can lead to health problems. People who cannot afford cars are hampered in their ability to find employment. Children too young to drive must rely on their parents to take them everywhere. This, in turn, puts more pressure on already-stressed working parents, who must spend many hours acting as chauffeurs.
Action is needed, for much is at stake.
The proposed model codes could help to rectify this problem and become the next significant step in Maryland s smart growth efforts. Having served on the Task Force on Smart Codes that led to the introduction of this legislation, the National Trust looks forward to staying involved in this process and assisting in the development of these codes. When they are written, we would want to ensure that irreplaceable historic resources and their settings were protected. We believe the proposed legislation could even serve as a model for other states around the country. Maryland has emerged as a national leader on smart growth, and we applaud you for your good work and leadership in this important area.