Can you imagine trying to read a 1,000-page document just to add a deck to your home? Well, if your answer is no, then you are not alone.
Many in the community agree the current Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision regulations are outdated, confusing, inconsistent, difficult to understand and use, and in some instances creates challenges to achieving the types of development County residents desire
Clarion Associates, lead consultants for the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations Rewrite, presented its evaluation and recommendations for how the County’s Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations should be restructured during three regional listening sessions in January and February 2015. Their comprehensive analysis is published in the Evaluation and Recommendations Report and is a result of Clarion’s yearlong review of the County’s current codes, regulations, and procedures.
The Report contains Clarion’s assessment of the problems with today’s regulations; as identified by the residents, business and property owners, developers, elected officials, and other interested Prince Georgians; proposes comprehensive recommendations for revising the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations; and contains a proposed annotated outline for how the new Zoning Ordinance should be rewritten. This document provides a catalyst for continued conversation with the community to help the County decide how to proceed in the preparation of new zoning and subdivision regulations. The findings in the Evaluation and Recommendations Report draw on the consultant’s experience and best practices that are in-place and effective for many jurisdictions across the country facing similar issues as Prince George’s County.
You can read the public’s feedback (hyperlink to the Zoning Rewrite Listening Session Notes) or watch the Recap Video from the public Listening Sessions to learn more about key points made in The Evaluation and Recommendations Report.
You too can provide your feedback on the Evaluation and Recommendations Report using OpenComment.
Have a question about the proposals presented in the Evaluation and Recommendations Report? Feel free to contact us.
To create a 21st Century Zoning Ordinance for Prince George’s County, we need your ideas to ensure that the new zoning ordinance reflects our community values and project goals. Help us, by providing your comments and feedback to project documents by using OpenComment.
OpenComment allows you to browse, download, and comment on draft documents about the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations Rewrite. If draft documents are available, they will appear on the Prince George’s County Planning Department’s OpenComment homepage. A direct link to the Department’s OpenComment page is located in the “Participate” tab on the Zoning Rewrite website or you can visit https://pgplanning.opencomment.us/.
For instructions on how to use OpenComment, download the tutorial.
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[/su_frame] Because zoning and subdivision impacts everyone. We all have a critical stake in the rewrite process. Zoning determines how land is used, how buildings are constructed, and what types of businesses are allowed in a community. Together, the zoning code and subdivision regulations establish fundamental aspects for our neighborhoods like walkability, building heights, streetscapes, police stations, schools, bike trails, even whether and how you can build a fence or deck.
For years, citizen activists, Planning Department staff, land developers, business owners, and elected officials have agreed that the current zoning and subdivision codes are outdated, sometimes foster an atmosphere of distrust, and prevent the County from getting the type of development it deserves. The County realized some time ago that there was only one solution – rewrite the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to make these codes easier to include citizen input, reduce uncertainty by clearly defining the approvals process, and implement the County’s vision for growth.
Several unsuccessful zoning rewrite attempts later, the County is still faced with the same dilemma. This time we need your help in making sure this effort does something none of the previous attempts were able to do – SUCCEED!
Rewriting the zoning code is a crucial recommendation of Plan Prince George’s 2035 . In this most-recently adopted General Plan it is stated that “in order to begin implementation of Plan 2035, we must first undertake a comprehensive update to the County’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.”
Since the Zoning Rewrite launched in January 2014, the project team has held more than 115 meetings with interested stakeholders discussing the state of the current zoning and subdivision regulations and creating a shared vision for what the new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations should address. Over these next two years, we encourage you to stay involved with this process. Please stay tuned for more updates and staff articles about how zoning affects you. The latest happenings with the Zoning Rewrite are posted on our website, Facebook and Twitter. In the meantime, please let us know your thoughts—contact us directly at zoningpgc@ppd.mncppc.org
In January and February 2015, the project team held several community outreach sessions with residents, land-use professionals, civic associations, businesses, and municipalities to discuss Clarion Associates evaluation and recommendations for how the County’s Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations should be restructured.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can watch highlights from the presentation below.