News from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Dorchester Residents Concerned about Sprawl, Growth
ESLC Announces Results of Recent Mason-Dixon Land Use Poll

Queenstown, Maryland - October 8, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore today announced the results of a poll indicating sprawl is the main issue of concern to Dorchester County residents.

The land use poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. this summer, surveyed 400 Dorchester residents regarding growth and development, local funding priorities, conservation needs of the county and factors affecting their quality of life.

The poll was commissioned by ESLC following the decision by the Dorchester County Commissioners to adopt the revised Eastern Shore 2010 agreement, which was endorsed by four other counties earlier this year. Kent, Caroline, Cecil and Queen Anne's all voted to adopt the revised agreement, strengthened last year by ESLC in response to increased growth pressure facing the Shore. The regional agreement specifically proposes that local counties; provide a minimum amount of funds for land protection, implement their economic development plans supporting the farming, fishing and forestry industries, direct 80 percent of new growth to villages and towns, set a maximum annual growth rate, create a plan for workforce housing, and suggest alternatives to another Bay Bridge, including a public transportation plan. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed supported their county adopting the updated agreement with 85 percent of residents polled indicating their support of Dorchester County establishing dedicated funds to preserve farms and open space.

"These poll results tell us citizens are concerned about development and land use, making it important they speak up for what they want from their county officials," said Amy Owsley, ESLC's Director of Land Use Planning. "Bringing Dorchester County on board with this regional agreement is crucial to the continued success of the agreement and is what the citizens apparently expect to help keep Dorchester County a beautiful place to live."

In July, ESLC engaged Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. to survey 400 registered voters in Dorchester County. The margin of error for the poll is +/- 5 percent.

Other results from the poll, which has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent include:

• Almost 70 percent of Dorchester residents polled cited natural resources and the environment as being the most important and unique thing about Dorchester County that contributes to their quality of life;
• 85 percent of residents are concerned about the affect that growth in the county will have on their quality of life;
• Support for the county adopting policies that incorporate and protect greenbelts, open space and forested lands in its growth and development plans was overwhelmingly high with 88 percent of those surveyed expressing a strong or moderate level of support for these policies;
• Those polled want Dorchester County government to play a larger role in the preservation of farmland and habitat areas. Some 88 percent of those polled want their county to increase efforts to preserve farmland and habitat areas with 74 percent in support of the county dedicating funds to preserve farmland and habitat.

"The Eastern Shore clearly wants more land protection, better managed growth, and stronger farm industry," said ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen. "We must increase our efforts now in Dorchester County if we want to meet these goals and protect our quality of life."

Download Full Poll Results Here.