In 1999, Cecil County, Maryland was one of twelve jurisdictions in the
state with no authority to prevent the destruction of historic resources. Responding to
the growing number of development pressures upon its historic sites and structures, the
county made one of the goals of its Comprehensive Plan the encouragement of the
identification, preservation, and restoration of the buildings and landscapes that are
direct links to the county’s past.
The Cecil County Department of
Planning, Zoning, Parks, and Recreation engaged Peter
Johnston of Redman/Johnston Associates, Ltd. (now
Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC) in 1999 to
prepare an Historic Preservation Plan with the assistance of a grant from the Maryland
Historical Trust. To oversee its preparation, the Cecil County Commissioners appointed a
committee of thirteen (13) citizens with various historic interests and backgrounds.
The Historic Preservation Plan
was developed as a framework for future historic preservation
planning initiatives. The Plan outlines strategies for inventory,
conservation, and management of historic resources, as well as
recommendations for public education programs and partnerships to strengthen
and advance local commitment to protecting the County’s historic buildings
and sites. Goals and objectives for developing and capitalizing on the
educational, economic, and aesthetic benefits of heritage resource
preservation and revitalization efforts were also developed as a major
component of the Plan.
PJA prepared a number of supplemental
plan materials, including county maps of historic sites of national and local importance,
a compendium of state and federal financial and technical assistance programs for historic
preservation, and a guide to federal and state registration processes to assist owners of
historic properties.
The Cecil County Historic
Preservation Plan is an expression of the County’s desire to see historic sites and
structures preserved. Safeguarding historic resources for the future will be a tremendous
asset to the County and its residents as they progress into the 21st Century.
