Updates – Page 6 – ZoningPGC

Prince George’s County Springs Forward to a New 21st Century Zoning Ordinance

Prince George’s County Zoning Rewrite Timeline

It’s spring time and the Prince George’s County Planning Department needs your help in doing some spring cleaning by dusting off the 50-year-old zoning ordinance. A lot has changed since the 1960s. Our communities have grown, our lifestyle choices have changed, and technology has become increasingly a part of everyday life. The County’s current Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations need an update that will not only bring our communities into the twenty-first century, but plan for the County’s future generations. We need your help to rewrite the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations so that they are easier to understand, user-friendly, and support the type of quality development and economic growth the County deserves.

THIS PAST YEAR, the Department’s consultant team, led by Clarion Associates, introduced their first recommendations for creating a successful 21st Century Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. Module 1, released in October 2015, is the County’s first step in creating new zoning standards. Among other recommendations, Module 1 proposes key changes such as zone name changes to better reflect their purposes, zone consolidations and new zones, uses, and a greatly streamlined and clarified set of use tables.

THIS SPRING, County residents will be introduced to our second step with the release of Module 2—development standards and subdivision transportation adequacy—for review and comment. This module will address important parts of our built environment, such as landscaping, open space, parking, signage, and lighting standards; adequacy of our streets, and other forms of transportation aside from the automobile; and strengthened collaboration with other agencies to ensure high-quality, pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly street designs in our urban and transit-oriented communities.

Rewriting the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations is an important part of keeping our County and communities viable. These laws determine how land in Prince George’s County can be developed or preserved. The zoning and subdivision codes establish fundamental aspects for our neighborhoods like walkability, building heights, streetscapes, bike trails, and even the location of police stations and schools. This multi-year project is intended to modernize the County’s zoning code into a more user-friendly document that is aligned with the County’s vision for smart growth, economic development, and improved quality of life for Prince George’s County residents featured in the Plan Prince George’s 2035 General Plan.

So stay informed and look for more information about upcoming community meetings on the web at zoningpgc.pgplanning.com or in our e-newsletter. We invite you to share your feedback with us on our working documents, including the upcoming Module 2, by using our online community discussion tool, OpenComment, at http://pgplanning.opencomment.us. It’s not too late to get involved! Visit our website or contact the project team today at 301-780-8173 for more information.

Brittney DrakefordUpdates No Comment

10 Things You Should Know About Module 1

DOWNLOAD 10 Things to Know About Module 1

Nearly six months ago, project consultants Clarion Associates presented Prince George’s County with the first glimpse of the proposed new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. These recommendations are based on national best practices that draw on the most effective approaches to zoning, subdivision, community involvement, and development used by jurisdictions similar to Prince George’s County.

We strongly encourage everyone to review Module 1: Zones and Uses to determine how the proposals may impact their property and community; but just as a quick refresher here is a list of ten key proposals made in Module 1 that may be of interest.

Simplification of the County’s Current Zone Structure
Clarion Associates proposes reducing the County’s current 73 zones to 44 zones. This is accomplished by integrating the best components of today’s zones with national best practices while also removing zones that are redundant or accomplish similar development goals. The zone consolidation helps to support the County’s priorities of smart growth, economic- and transit-oriented development at our Metro stations, and encourages the right growth in the right locations.

Creation of Transit-Oriented/Activity Center Zones
Where does the activity happen in Prince George’s County? Clarion Associates’ BIG new idea is the creation of Transit-Oriented/Activity Center base zones that serve as focal points for a neighborhood or a series of neighborhoods. These zones are intended to create places that are walkable and more urban than the immediate surrounding community. They reflect the County’s General Plan, Plan Prince George’s 2035 center classifications, and implement policies associated with those classifications and the prioritization of County revitalization and public sector investment contained in Plan 2035.

Creation of Planned Development Zones
Module 1 adds ten new planned development zones that provide alternatives to the Residential, Nonresidential, and Transit-Oriented/Activity Center base zones where increased design flexibility is desired. Each planned development zone identifies the allowed uses, lists the types of intensity and dimensional standards the Planned Development Basic Plan must provide, and outlines development standards that may be modified through this plan. These zones allow for more flexibility in design and density, with the expectation that the development quality will surpass what is achievable in the base zone alternative. A planned development must be approved through a rezoning and would be subject to a public review process.
Creation of a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone
The new Zoning Ordinance includes a proposed Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone that protects and preserves the unique development features and characters of established neighborhoods in Prince George’s County, while encouraging development that is compatible with existing neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone would incorporate specific design regulations that are intended to reinforce the character of a specific community. The Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone is a flexible tool that may be applied to multiple neighborhoods or situations, each of which will have its own unique architectural, natural, cultural, and historic attributes.

Creation of a new Neighborhood Commercial Zone
The proposed new Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zone is envisioned to create and enhance community-centric retail and traditional main streets. Think Main Street Upper Marlboro or long-time neighborhood shops in Mount Rainier. The zone reflects a small-scale, neighborhood-serving character, though it can be more flexible in that it allows uses and accommodates residential and modest mixed-use development.
CHICKENS!
Simultaneously one of the most popular – and questioned – recommendations proposed in Module 1 is the allowance of home-housing for poultry. Residential properties with half-acre or larger lots will be allowed to keep up to 6 hens (sorry, no roosters) in their yards if certain design regulations are met. In addition to permitting chickens on residential property, Clarion Associates’ proposal significantly strengthens support for the County’s traditional and urban agricultural uses.

Allowance of Accessory Dwelling Units
An accessory dwelling unit is a small second dwelling on the same property as a regular single-family dwelling. Commonly referred to as granny-flats, mother-in-law suites, or guest homes accessory dwelling units can be an apartment over a detached garage, a basement apartment, or an living area connected to the main home. Accessory dwelling units are a common practice throughout the nation and provide options for affordable housing and aging in place. Design standards would require the property owner to provide at least one off-street parking space, among other regulations.

Replacement of the Transit-District Overlay Zones (TDOZ) and Development-District Overlay Zones (DDOZ)
A major criticism of the County’s design overlay zones is that they are overly regulatory and very confusing as separate documents and sets of regulations. Clarion Associates’ draft zone structure recommends the elimination of these overlay zones in favor of more traditional zones and clear, easily understood, and market-tested design standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance. While the specifics of the design and place-making standards will come in Module 2: Development Standards, they will address street connectivity, building placement, roofs, streetscapes, parking, and signage among other things.

Replacement of Mixed-Use and Comprehensive Design Zones including the M-U-TC, M-U-I, and M-X-T Zones
The current ordinance has 30 zones specifically created to encourage mixed-use development in the County. These zones are proposed to be eliminated in favor of streamlined zones and review/approval procedures. They will be replaced with a combination of nonresidential base zones, transit oriented/activity center base zones, and planned development zones.

Greater mix of residential and non-residential development types
Clarion Associates is proposing that multifamily residential base zones and commercial base zones allow more blending of uses by-right, in keeping with national best practices. The guiding principle is that including a limited mix of uses encourages healthy communities and allows for an easier transition for blighted or vacant properties.

Brittney DrakefordUpdates 3 Comments

READ, REVIEW, AND COMMENT

Provide your Feedback on Module 1 for the NEW Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations

Prince George’s County needs your input TODAY! The creation of a 21^st Century Zoning Ordinance for Prince George’s County is well on its way. You are invited to GET INVOLVED and provide your feedback on the first step in drafting a NEW Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations for Prince George’s County. Known as Module 1, this first set of recommendations from a nationally-renown consultant team, led by Clarion Associates, highlights key changes such as updated names and modern standards for a number of the County’s zones, zone district consolidations, new commercial and mixed-use zones that will provide the County with stronger ways to implement community plans, and new use tables that will control what you can do on your property.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT. Share your thoughts on Module 1 by using an online tool, called OpenComment. It allows you to comment on documents containing the new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations recommended by Clarion, and to engage in a broad, online community discussion with fellow Prince Georgians from throughout the County. Module 1 is available for feedback on the Prince George’s County Planning Department’s OpenComment homepage. Visit https://pgplanning.opencomment.us/ to access Module 1 today.

Please provide your feedback on Module 1 by February 29, 2016 to ensure consideration as Clarion continues work on the next module (Module 2: Development Standards), expected in Spring, 2016. Comments on Module 1 will still be accepted after this date but will not be fully evaluated until the comprehensive review draft, expected in Fall, 2016.

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS today and join us in creating a 21^st Century Zoning Ordinance for Prince George’s Our future depends on it!

Brittney DrakefordUpdates No Comment

Module 1 available for review

The Zoning Rewrite team is pleased to present the first part of the Clarion Associates recommendations for a brand new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations for Prince George’s County. This is the first of three parts, known as Module 1 and contains new zones, zone standards, use regulations, and some initial rules of interpretations and definitions.

Clarion Associates’ recommendations are based on national best practices that draw on the most effective approaches to zoning, subdivision, community involvement, and development used by jurisdictions similar to Prince George’s County. After fifty years of using the current Zoning Ordinance, and thirty years with the current Subdivision Regulations, the County has identified many issues with our current zoning and subdivision laws. The Clarion team continues to work toward a brighter future for the County, specifically designing a new set of laws for Prince George’s County to meet our goals of:

Maximizing economic development potential and expanding the County’s tax base
Increasing certainty of process
Enhancing community input in the development process
Protecting established communities
Streamlining development procedures
Modernizing regulations

As you can see below, Module 1 is available in two different versions. The first version comes complete with numerous footnotes and endnotes that explain the Clarion team rationale for their decisions, changes, and recommendations.

The second version is more concise in that it eliminates the footnotes and endnotes to present a more accurate picture of what the future Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations of Prince George’s County will look like when complete in 2017. Both versions contain numerous graphics, charts, and diagrams; clear section breaks, consistent headers, and balanced blank spaces that make for a much more readable document than today’s laws.

Please choose the version that works best for your needs, and join the conversation!

Module 1: Zones and Use Regulations (with footnotes)

Module 1: Zones and Use Regulations (without footnotes)

Module 1: Zone and Use Regulations Executive Summary

Module 1: Zone and Use Regulations Errata Sheet

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Preview the New Zoning Standards

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT INVITES YOU TO PREVIEW NEW ZONING STANDARDS

A series of Community Learning Sessions will be held on October 27, 28, and 29

The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) invites you to preview draft Module One of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. The County’s consultant team, Clarion Associates, will present an overview of their recommended comprehensive replacement of the current Zoning Ordinance’s zones and use categories. The sessions will be held in the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of the County on the following days and locations from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Southern Technology and Recreation Complex
7007 Bock Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744

Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785

Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center
7120 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707

The Community Learning Sessions will feature Clarion Associates highlighting key changes such as updated names and modern standards for a number of the County’s zones, zone district consolidations, new commercial and mixed-use zones that will provide the County stronger ways to implement community plans, and new use tables. This is the first step in drafting a 21st Century Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations for Prince George’s County. Copies of draft Module One will be available on the web at zoningpgc.pgplanning.com, and on OpenComment at pgplanning.opencomment.us for public input. This event is FREE and open to the public.

The Prince George’s Zoning Rewrite will update the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to make development regulations easier to understand, more user-friendly, and supportive of the type of quality development that encourages economic growth for the County. The project will also implement the newly adopted Plan Prince George’s 2035 General Plan, which establishes the vision for how the County hopes to grow.

Brittney DrakefordUpdates 1 Comment