Maryland Military & Civilian Compatible Use Project

The Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce) is committed to protecting the $57.5B in economic impact from the state’s 20 military facilities, including 12 major installations. Civilian activities and uses that are incompatible with military missions in the state could potentially mean a loss of that mission or even the closure of the base, a blow to the local economy from loss of revenue and jobs generated by that installation. The Department of Defense defines incompatible civilian development as land use activity and civilian development activity that adversely affects the utility or training and readiness missions of a military installation. To prevent adverse effects, it is important that communities and military collaborate on compatible land use planning. Compatible use ensures that civilian regions can grow and develop while protecting the military’s mission.

Phases of the MD Compatible Use Project

Phase 1: Plan

Maryland’s Statewide Joint Land Use Response Implementation Strategy (SJRIS)

To promote compatible civilian development in Maryland that supports long-term military sustainability and continued regional community development around MD installations, Commerce received a $178K grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) in 2017 to fund an effort that would provide the state with a strategic approach, in coordination with local governments, to address compatibility issues at a state level. The deliverable for this project was the Statewide Joint Land Use Response Implementation Strategy (SJRIS), completed in 2019. 

Additionally, six fact sheets were created on compatible use issues, including: 

• Coordination and communication
• Compatible energy siting
  
• JLUS studies
• Land use
• Legislative initiatives
• Roadway capacity
  
  

Joint Land Use Studies

A Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is a strategic planning process undertaken by state or local government in partnership with the military installation to preserve and protect military readiness and defense capabilities, seek ways to reduce the operational impacts on adjacent lands, and support community growth and economic development. A JLUS is a key tool for compatible land use planning. Five Maryland installations and facilities have completed Joint Land Use Studies – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Blossom Point Research Facility, Joint Base Andrews, NAS Patuxent River, and NSF Indian Head - the outcomes of these studies informed the development of the SJRIS. 

To view these studies, please see the links below:

The SJRIS includes 7 recommendation focus areas and 33 implementation activities. To implement some of the recommendations, Commerce, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) applied for and received a $1.12M grant from the OLDCC in 2020 to fund the implementation of key focus areas: strengthening communication and coordination between the state, military, and community; technical guidance/assistance for local communities on best practices for land use; facilitating compatible renewable energy siting; and exploring legislative initiatives to address compatible use issues. This project was completed in December 2022 and details and links to the tools and resources created under this grant can be found below.

Compatible Use Website & Handbook

The website and technical handbook educates, informs, and guides state and local leaders, members of the military and military communities, and the general public on compatible use issues and solutions. To complete the website and technical handbook, Maryland Department of Planning hired a Compatible Use Community Planning Liaison who directed an outreach effort, including the formation of two stakeholder groups. 

Stakeholder Groups: 

• SJRIS Implementation Workgroup for implementing the SJRIS recommendations. This group includes state, military, and local representatives and focused on the tools, communication methods, and educational and funding resources proposed in the SJRIS.
• SJRIS Implementation Workgroup Roster
• SJRIS Implementation Workgroup Kickoff Meeting Materials
  
  
• Compatible Use Policy Committee explored and developed model local legislation to improve compatible use in Maryland and considering any needed new or modified state legislation. This group included state, military, and local representatives. 
• Compatible Use Policy Committee Roster
• Compatible Use Policy Committee Kickoff Meeting Materials

The outreach effort also engaged the public using surveys, public forums and meetings, and other methods. Please visit this page for upcoming events and opportunities through which you can provide input. 

Renewable Energy Compatible Siting Project

In an effort to enhance compatible use between the military and civilian communities, Commerce conducted a Renewable Energy Compatible Siting Project. The goal of this project was to help the renewable energy industry coordinate with the military when identifying areas for development of solar and wind energy projects in the state and make recommendations to improve coordination processes with the military for siting renewable energy projects. This goal not only serves to protect the economic impact from Maryland's military installations by preventing potential adverse impacts from incompatible development, but also helps the state meet its goals for renewable energy generation through smart siting guidance. 

Project activities included the creation of military and coordination map layers incorporated into Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s Smart DG+ screening tool to inform renewable energy developers of military operations in the state and provide them with contact information with military representatives for coordination purposes when siting a wind or solar energy project. The project further included a study, the Military Assets and Considerations for Renewable Energy Development report, which characterizes military operations in the state and explains those operations in relation to renewable energy development and provides recommendations to improve existing coordination processes between energy developers and the military for compatible siting of renewable energy projects.

Renewable Energy Compatible Siting Project Steering Committee 

A steering committee made up of members representing the state, military, federal agencies, the renewable energy industry, and local communities, guided and supported the execution of the project activities.

For more information about this project, please see the brochure below. If you would like more information, please contact Jennifer Chiasson at Maryland Department of Commerce at Jennifer.Chiasson@maryland.gov.

• Informational brochure