EASTON, Md. - Talbot County has spent the week gathering public input on how to stimulate economic growth—and housing emerged as a top concern among residents.
At a series of interactive open house events, county leaders encouraged people to share their opinions board by board, using colorful stickers to indicate priorities. The most talked-about topic: housing affordability.
“So for me, top of the list is increased housing options that the average resident and family can afford, which is a pretty popular option on this list. It's been a long-term challenge for our community,” said Easton resident Nancy Andrew.
“I really feel that Talbot County needs more affordable housing. Many of the library’s employees cannot afford to live in the county,” said Easton resident Dana Newman.
While many called for more housing options, others voiced concern about developments that have already been approved but not yet built.
“The biggest concern is, we've got homes, apartments approved already by the planning commission. And I'd like to see those built first before they approve anything new,” said Easton resident John Franczak.
County officials say the open house sessions will play a key role in shaping future policy.
“This looks at everyone's opinion and then we're going to identify our priorities and our work plan for the next few years,” said Cassandra Vanhooser, director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism.
“There are a lot of different ideas about what would make Talbot County a more thriving place. And for some folks, that means don't do anything. We love it here. It's great. But for others, like small business owners, they might have some ideas about how to expand their access to capital or make it so they can retain more workers,” said Lindsey Johnson of Camoin Associates, one of the event organizers.
Vanhooser added that the sticker-based method helped residents voice opinions they might not otherwise have shared publicly.
“And so that little dot that someone put on there, where they're weighing in on an issue—they might not have spoken up in public,” she said.
Friday marked the final day of the open house events. County officials say the feedback will be reviewed by focus groups, the Economic Development Commission and elected councilmembers as they plan for Talbot County’s future.