O'Malley heads to water to tout zoning proposal

ANNAPOLIS, MD – (AP) Governor Martin O'Malley is headed to the shore of the Chesapeake Bay this morning to promote his proposal to tighten state zoning laws that govern development close to the Chesapeake and tidal wetlands.

O'Malley will talk to reporters at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis. He wants to promote his bill that would revisit state Critical Areas laws, which set standards for development closest the water.

O'Malley and environmentalists say the 25-year-old laws need to be revisited because they can too easily be subverted by developers and wealthy homeowners with waterfront mansions.

O'Malley's plan would increase fines for violations and make it harder for counties to grant exemptions to the laws. His proposal has already been heard by a Senate panel, with a House committee starting work on it this week.