- The mission of Concerned Citizens of Western Howard County, Inc. (CCWHC), a non-profit Maryland corporation, is to preserve, protect and conserve the rural nature of Western Howard County – the Rural West – under the rural development principles set forth in the Howard County General Plan.
- CCWHC ‘s membership totals more than 300 families, representing approximately 1,000 Rural West residents. Members pay a $25 per year membership fee. (Click “Donation” tab to join.)
- CCWHC’s two highest priorities are currently: 1) opposing approval of an “out-of-character” used car lot in the village of Daisy and replacing it with a County-supported rural family park and 2) participating in the updating of the County’s General Plan and the Comprehensive Rezoning Plan beginning in 2009, including advocating the formation of a Rural West Commercial Development Work Group..
- Howard County defines the Rural West as the 95,000 acres that lie essentially west of Route 32 corridor in the County’s No Planned Service Area (no sewer or water service), which represents nearly 60 percent of the County’s total land area and about 12 per cent of the County’s 270,000 population. Rural West residents paid $66 million in County and State real property taxes in 2009-10.
- Of the 95,000 acres in the Rural West, 32,000 are committed to agricultural and environmental preservation, parks and green spaces, 34,000 to residential uses, 6,000 to commercial, industrial and institutional uses, and 23,000 acres are uncommitted, much of it still being farmed. The County has invested $160 million in agricultural preservation.
CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS
October 5 Public hearing for applicants applying for agricultural preservation
Joy Levy, Administrator, Howard County Agricultural Preservation Program in the Dining Hall, Howard County Fairgrounds
October 19 Public hearing for applicants applying for agricultural preservation
Joy Levy, Administrator, Howard County Agricultural Preservation Program in the Board Room, Howard County Fairgrounds
