Notes from PlanningDotCom

Meeting Notes posted on this site are NOT OFFICIAL MINUTES, but can give you different perspectives of what is happening in the county. More meeting notes can be found here. Newspaper reports about meetings can often be found in Newsletter archives - a brief description and a link to the story are in weekly e-newsletters.

Nov. 12, 2003 - at Central High School

Budgeting now for FY2005
Public Forum after 30 days of application usually take place in community.
Planning process takes 18 mos. to develop preliminery plan/SMA - comprehensive rezoning of area, though could encompass only small area. Developes regulations followed by another public hearing.
County Council then approves.

General Plan speaks to 10 elements with policies of county with tiers.
Functional Master Plan for entire county includes historic sites.
Area and Small Area Plans - any of several areas.
Monitor plans through web site, contact planners to help prepare plans
Opportunity to share info w/ neighbors, developers, county officials - traffic and other problems.

Chief of community planning division. Al
Plan no longer has 20 yr. life. State law says need to update every 6 yrs., but currently don't have the staff or funds to do that.
Zoning map amendment process
pgatlas.com

Cecilia Lammers - Environmental planning in PG - land use and development revue and woodland conservation -PG 1st in state. Work w/ DER.
NEW - Green infrastructue plan for wildlife - 25 yr plan to protect and preserve and restore where it doesn't exist - plan in the same ways roads are planned.- PUBLIC FORUM IN May - can go to focus group meetings. Dec 9 in COB in UM -www.mncppc.org/county/greeninfrastructure - coming soon. Several opps for input until June 2004.
301-952-3650 -8:30-4 staff can answer general questions.

Gail Rothrock - historic preservation planning - Old Town College Park being considered for designation. Greenbelt Museum has original 1930's furniture - in hist. dist.
Will be updating public safety plan starting in spring 2004.
Comedy House in Peppermill needs to be restored.

Farol Hamer - public facilities - Chief dev. review - flat fee 7,000 per housing unit for schools.
Transportation - focus groups - call office to get involved. mwcog.org/transportation - trails funding discussed at budget mt's. 301-952-3680

development process tips
- get involved early
- get to know the staff - speak to civc group
- influence decision makers - co. Exec, council, planners, dev.
- diff. types of isues go w/ dif. types of cases, eg zoning map amendments there's a lot of flexibility in this stage, special exception, subdivisions which are difficult to deny if applicant has all criteria met, departures and variances
- don't underestimate the values of conditions depending on proportions but can negotiate
- become a person of record while case is pending
- new council bill developers have to notify neighbors of plans before filing
- forms for civic assoc.'s to become official.

- submitted by Joyce Dowling

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