comprehensive planning

The New Decade Means New Comprehensive Plans

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Local Spotlight 

by Joseph Griffiths, AICP, Local Assistance and Training Manager

Many jurisdictions coordinate the development of new comprehensive plans with the arrival of decennial census data. Census data is a foundation of comprehensive planning, providing a snapshot of Maryland communities, outlining growth trends, and distinguishing key demographic indicators. 

In 2013, House Bill 409 increased the review period of a local jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan cycle to 10 years, instead of six years. To learn more about the 10-year cycle and when your jurisdiction’s review is due, please visit the Maryland Department of Planning’s (Planning) Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Review Cycle webpage.  

Continue reading →

The New Decade Means New Comprehensive Plans

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Local Spotlight 

by Joseph Griffiths, Local Assistance and Training Manager

Many jurisdictions coordinate the development of new comprehensive plans with the arrival of decennial census data. Census data is a foundation of comprehensive planning; providing a snapshot of Maryland communities, outlining growth trends, and distinguishing key demographic indicators.  

Continue reading →

Building on a History of Innovative Planning: Thrive Montgomery 2050

/ Maryland Department of Planning / 2 Comments

An Interview with Khalid Afzal, Special Projects Manager, Montgomery County Planning Department 

Local Spotlight

by Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has always been known for its progressive and groundbreaking planning. With the development of the first general plan for Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, entitled On Wedges and Corridors, A General Plan for the Physical Development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Montgomery and PrinceGeorge’s Counties published in 1964, the bi-county agency established itself at the forefront of contemporary comprehensive planning efforts.  

Continue reading →

reBlog: Local Governments & MDP Work Through 10-Year Planning Cycle Transition

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

From the Maryland Association of Counties’ blog, Conduit Street, by Les Knapp

County and municipal governments are working with the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) to transition from a 6-year to a 10-year comprehensive planning and zoning cycle. HB 409  and SB 671 of 2013 moved to a 10-year cycle, and, to the extent practicable, makes the cycle coincide with the release of data from the United States decennial census. The legislation also required a “check-up” at the 5-year point of a comprehensive plan’s adoption and was amended to clarify that a local government that adopted a growth tier under the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 must integrate the tiers into its comprehensive plan when the plan would be next reviewed under the jurisdiction’s current 6-year cycle. As the bills were part of MACo’s 2013 Legislative Initiative package, MACo supported the bills. Continue reading →