In Case You Missed It!

In 2020, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) joined the Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration (Collaboration), a consortium that also includes American Planning Association state chapters, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association, the West Virginia Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, the Virginia Rural Planning Caucus, and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

On December 8, 2022, Planning staff and local representatives from Rising Sun and Kent County presented a Collaboration webinar called The Zoning CheckUp: A Performance Guide for Small and Rural Jurisdictions. Planning is developing the Zoning CheckUp as an on-demand resource for Maryland jurisdictions. The webinar introduced it to the Collaboration audience and allowed attendees to provide feedback to Planning staff. 

Planning is designing the Zoning CheckUp as a code review guide for small and rural jurisdictions. It is a voluntary tool for Planning Boards or Commissions to evaluate their official zoning map and local zoning code for completeness and consistency with the comprehensive plan. The Zoning CheckUp also serves as a self-evaluation guide addressing a variety of topic areas to improve the performance of zoning tools and encourages Planning Boards or Commissions to analyze their official zoning map and ordinance to ensure that these official documents are meticulously maintained and updated. 

Planning will publish the Zoning Checkup in 2023, but you can get a sneak peek by watching the webinar recording below. Click on the image to view.  

Planning previously partnered with the Collaboration on compatible use, sign code, planning board organization, and equity planning webinars. To learn more, view previous webinars, and register for upcoming webinars, please visit the Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration website.

To learn more about the Zoning Checkup or to provide feedback, please contact David Dahlstrom, AICP, Upper Eastern Shore Regional Planner for the Maryland Department of Planning, at david.dahlstrom@maryland.gov.