Tell us about a bad development near you

From environmentmaryland.org:

Development in Maryland is out of control, and it is paving over our open spaces, polluting the Chesapeake Bay, and hurting our quality of life. That's why Environment Maryland is working to pass policies that will help Maryland grow in a smarter, more sustainable way.

To prove that uncontrolled growth is a problem, we need to document cases of sprawling development from all across the state. Do you live, work, or play near a development that is going up and paving over a farm or forest? Is your local creek polluted by runoff from a construction site or new development? Write and tell us your story, and send us a picture if you have one.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:

http://www.environmentmaryland.org/action/land-preservation/my-story?id4=ES

Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.

Background
Much of the development in Maryland over the past 50 years has been poorly planned. Development is too often characterized by the conversion of natural or agricultural land to low-density subdivisions and strip malls, only accessible by car.

This dispersed development pattern threatens our quality of life and harms the environment. Poorly managed growth destroys valuable open space and farmland, leads to the abandonment of our cities, forces us to drive long distances between home and work or shopping, increases traffic congestion, wastes tax dollars, and pollutes our air and water.

From Terrapin Run in Alleghany County to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, uncontrolled development threatens our parks, forests, and farms. Uncontrolled growth puts our water quality and quality of life at risk and sprawling development increases commute times and air pollution.

Cities and counties should focus growth in areas inside or near existing development. When cities and counties expand outside of existing high density areas, they must take undeveloped lands-whether forests or farms-and those pristine lands are lost forever. Expanding outside existing development also puts a heavy strain on our tax base. New development requires new roads, schools, and services, which everyone pays for.

Environment Maryland is working to pass policies that will help Maryland grow in a smarter, more sustainable way. This summer we are researching solutions and building support for change, and we need your help. To convince legislators that uncontrolled growth is a problem we need to document cases of bad, sprawling development across the state.

We need you to write and tell us your story, and send us a picture if you have one. We will compile the stories we receive and use them to document the damage done by sprawling development and the need to control growth across Maryland.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:

http://www.environmentmaryland.org/action/land-preservation/my-story?id4=ES

Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them. [See