OPINION: What works in Baltimore is unlikely to succeed on the rural Shore

The reasons people give for objecting to Maryland's Sustainable Growth and Preservation Act of 2012 are many and varied. The legislation, also known as the "septic bill," requires counties to divide land into four tiers, based on whether it's served by public water and sewer utitilies.

The bill is supposed to help county land planners better manage and contain sprawl. It also preserves farmland and forests, which not only reflect the rural nature of the region, but also provide natural filtering and cleansing functions. It all sounds reasonable, until you hear some of the objections. It ...