Officials are seeking feedback from the community on the county’s land development review process. Three public meetings hosted by Maryland Delegate Lesley Lopez, Montgomery County Planning Department, and County Executive Marc Elrich are scheduled for the next several weeks on June 22, July 18, and Aug. 2. The meetings will be conducted in person as well as virtually.
The public sessions are part of the newly formed Development Review Process Workgroup, which was created by the Montgomery County state delegation and is chaired by Maryland State Delegate Lesley Lopez (D-District 39).
The Workgroup looks at the development review process, with a special focus on economic competitiveness.
Schedule of Public Development Review Process Meetings:
- Friday, June 22 – Hybrid meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. at County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, 3rd floor Hearing Room, Rockville, MD 20850. This is a hybrid event with in-person and virtual testimony options. Sign up to provide feedback either in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams (Sign up).
- Tuesday, July 18 – Hybrid meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. at the M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, 2425 Reedie Drive, 2nd floor, Wheaton, MD 20902. This is a hybrid event with in-person and virtual testimony options. Sign up to provide feedback either in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams.
- Wednesday, Aug. 2 – Virtual-only meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a virtual-only meeting. Sign up to provide feedback and a link will be sent ahead of the meeting.
Community members are invited to provide feedback at each of the public meetings on the development review process. Participants will have two minutes to speak. Workgrou0p members are interested in the communities experiences with the review process, suggestions to improve the process, and any experience with the review process in other jurisdictions.
Community members are also invited to submit written comments for the Development Review Process Workgroup to consider. Email development@montgomeryplanning.org and Meredith Wellington at meredith.wellington@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The input gathered at the meetings and via email will inform the Workgroup’s report on its findings and recommendations scheduled to be delivered to the Montgomery County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly by Oct. 15.
Our first public listening session for the Development Review Process Workgroup is Thursday (6/22). Sign up to provide your feedback on the county's development review process or learn how to watch live. https://t.co/8lxfoJa7pu pic.twitter.com/vu7K3xnaZV
— Montgomery Planning (@montgomeryplans) June 20, 2023
Schedule of Development Review Process Workgroup Meetings
The Development Review Process Workgroup will meet on a regular basis between June and September. Residents may attend the meetings in person. The meetings will be broadcast live.
- Friday, June 9 – The hybrid meeting was held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters. (view the meeting video)
- Tuesday, June 27 – Hybrid meeting from 2 to 6 p.m. at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters.
- Wednesday, July 12 – Hybrid meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters.
- Friday, July 28 – Hybrid meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters.
- Tuesday, Aug. 8 – Hybrid meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters.
- Thursday, Aug. 24 – Hybrid meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters.
About the Development Review Process Workgroup
The Development Review Process Workgroup, made up of county residents, M-NCPPC, county, state, regional and County Council representatives, and the development community, will deliver findings to the Montgomery County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly by Oct. 15.
The members of the Development Review Process Workgroup were selected by the Planning Board Chair and County Executive.
Current Land Development Process in Montgomery County
The Maryland State Legislature established the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in 1927 to provide long-range planning, and park acquisition and development for Montgomery and Prince Georges’ Counties. In Montgomery County, Planning Board members are appointed by the Montgomery County Council and approved by the County Executive. The Council legislates the zoning code. Under County law, any subdivision, sketch plan, and site plan must be approved by the Planning Board and must conform to adopted master plans and County codes. As a prerequisite to Planning Board review, each project must undergo an extensive review by the Montgomery County Planning Department and its Development Review Committee comprised of planners, county agencies, and state agencies and utilities.
Graphic explaining the development review process
