Is Growth at the Tipping Point?

“Calvert has been the fastest growing County in Maryland for 20 years.” “Southern MD is the fastest growing region in the state.” “Calvert’s commercial growth rate is among the highest in the state.” “Calvert needs to expand the commercial tax base.” “Growth prevents stagnation.” “The Calvert County Commissioners limited build out to about 37,000 households.” “Residential growth does not pay for itself.” “The schools are overcrowded due to too much residential growth.” “Slowing residential growth is raising the price of housing in Calvert.” “Route 4 can not handle more growth than build out.” “The aquifers can not support more growth than build out.”

Everyone has heard these quotes and more. Which are fact-based? The answer is all of the above.

A more pertinent question might be: What is too much growth and what is too little?

The answer depends on the kind of growth: whether the growth is commercial or residential.

Commercial growth expands the business economy and creates more jobs, more wealth, and more tax revenue with some businesses adding more to the economy than is required to support them with infrastructure such as roads, police and fire protection, solid waste disposal, and other government services, with little effect on the environment. Residential growth usually costs more in government services than the tax revenue generated, unless the homeowner’s wealth reaches above a break-even line.

Agriculture businesses add to the economy while requiring little in services.

Calvert can sustain new commercial growth because of its out-commuting workforce which could fill local jobs. At 2%, the current residential growth rate is sustainable.

The County is still catching up from the twenty years of frantic growth rates that exceeded 4% per year. Examples include jail space, park land, and sheriff’s deputies—all below the recommended per capita rates.

Some prefer the higher residential growth rates of the past; some refuse to believe that housing growth has slowed to a manageable level. Now is the tipping point. Which way do YOU want future growth to tip: toward more or less?

Susan Shaw

Calvert County Commissioner