By Adam Pagnucco.
Senator Ben Kramer’s bills on Park and Planning have attracted a great deal of attention in recent months. Now a deal has been struck on how to proceed. The deal’s broker is Delegate Lesley Lopez (D-39), who chairs the MoCo House Delegation’s Metro Washington Area Committee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation.
Instead of Kramer’s bill mandating a restructuring task force, County Executive Marc Elrich and the planning department have agreed to form a voluntary development review process workgroup that will focus on the economic competitiveness of the county’s review procedures. The workgroup is supposed to report its findings to the delegation by October 15. Kramer’s other bill providing for a variety of other changes is due to be heavily amended with a focus on transparency and ethics. I will post those amendments when I have them.
A press release from the delegation appears below. In addition, a letter of intent signed by Elrich and Acting Planning Board Chair Jeff Zyontz which contains more details can be found here.
Delegate Lopez deserves credit for apparently settling what had been a nasty fight. Let’s see how long the executive branch and Park and Planning will play nice!
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Montgomery County House Delegation, Montgomery County Executive, Montgomery Planning Form Development Review Process Workgroup
Interagency workgroup to examine the county’s process for reviewing development projects to ensure economic competitiveness and to recommend possible improvements; findings will be delivered by October 15, 2023 to the Montgomery County Delegation
WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County House Delegation, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and the Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), have agreed to collaborate together on a workgroup to examine the county’s development review process, with a special focus on economic competitiveness. Delegate Lesley Lopez (D- District 39) will serve as the workgroup’s Chair. The Development Review Process Workgroup will be formed by May 1, 2023 and will deliver findings to the Montgomery County Delegation by October 15, 2023.
Delegate Lopez said, “This inclusive workgroup demonstrates a commitment to our Montgomery County constituents, from across state and local levels of government, to address a perennial issue – development. The findings of the workgroup will be actionable toward shaping potential legislation, and a bonus will be the deepened relationships between agencies. It’s a great step forward for our County, and has the potential to yield significant results.”
“Over the last 4 years, Montgomery County’s economic competitiveness has soared with record private investment, a booming life sciences industry, and a hospitality and retail industry that has admirably recovered from the impacts of the pandemic,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “During the same time, within County government, we have shortened the time and improved the process for permitting. Our reputation as a tough place to do business is changing and, now, it’s more important than ever to continue to improve our business processes and cut red tape. I am grateful to the Chair Lopez, Chair Palakovich Carr, and the members of the House Delegation for working with us on this issue, and look forward to working with our Planning colleagues to continue to improve our processes so that we can make our County an even better place to start and grow businesses.”
“The planning and development process in Montgomery County has produced many of the most desirable and award-winning communities in the country,” said Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Jeff Zyontz. “This is a result of hard work and collaboration between various governmental entities at the local and state level. We appreciate the leadership of the Montgomery County Delegation in working with Montgomery Planning, the County Executive’s office, and community stakeholders to continue our ongoing quest for excellence in outcome and process.”
About the development review process
The Montgomery County Planning Board is the sole legal authority for the subdivision process in Montgomery County pursuant to the State Land Use Article. Montgomery County’s development review process is largely delegated to the Montgomery County Planning Department by the Planning Board. Montgomery Planning works closely with Montgomery County Government Executive branch departments such as the Department of Permitting Services and Department of Transportation as well as utility companies and other agencies and stakeholders. This process ensures that new development applications are consistent with the adopted master plan and the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance as well as considering the impact on the environment, quality of design, compatibility with neighboring uses and the availability of public facilities (water and sewer, transportation, schools).
About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a bi-county agency empowered by the State of Maryland in 1927 to acquire, develop, maintain, and administer a regional system of parks within Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and to provide land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. The governing body of M-NCPPC consists of 10 members, five appointed by Montgomery County and five by Prince George’s County. The Commission coordinates and acts on matters of interest to both counties and meets at least once a month. The members of the Commission from each county serve on separate county planning boards to facilitate, review, and administer the matters affecting their respective counties.
About Montgomery Planning
The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, aims to improve quality of life by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for current and future generations. The Planning Department creates great communities by developing master plans, reviewing applications for development and analyzing various types of information to help public officials plan for Montgomery County’s future. The Department comprises about 150 staff members and provides recommendations, information, analysis and services to the Montgomery County Planning Board, the County Council, the County Executive, other government agencies and the public. Visit www.montgomeryplanning.org.