About
the Community-Based Planning Division
The
Community-Based Planning Division develops master
plans and facilitates the implementation of master
plan recommendations. The Division is fully engaged in implementing
a streamlined master plan process recently approved by the
Planning Board and the County Council. Interdisciplinary teams
are assigned to seven
geographic planning areas. They provide the continuity,
heightened community knowledge, and integration of expertise
that is vital to a more effective and efficient planning process.
When a plan is prepared, the Team, already familiar with community
issues, engages in a highly efficient plan making process.
After new master plans are adopted, the Teams work with other
government agencies and the community to facilitate implementation
activities.
Throughout
the community-based planning program, a broad range of public
involvement in a wide variety of innovative participatory
activities promotes a better understanding of the issues and
issue resolution.
Master
Plan Development
Master
plans
shape communities by advancing the "Wedges and Corridors"
goals of the County's General Plan,
creating a vision for the community, and providing important
recommendations and guidelines to facilitate accomplishment
of that vision. The streamlined master plan process is designed
to broaden public involvement,expedite the planning process,
and focus attention on facilitation of plan recommendations.
This process is now in place. To ensure its effectiveness,
the Community-Based Planning Division has instituted a variety
of innovative activities and procedures.
The
New Master Plan Process...
- Streamlines
and shortens the plan making process to bring it closer
to the norm for urban counties nationwide. Master plan
preparation time has been reduced from 4½+ years
to 2¾ years, which is comparable to a national
norm of 2½ years.
- Broadens
community involvement to better reflect the County's diversity
and,
- Enhances
long term facilitation and coordination of master plan
recommendations. Pursuant to the new master plan reforms,
a Master Plan Status Report
will be prepared by each Team every other year to assess
delivery of master plan recommendations in accord with
timing elements prescribed in the respective plans.
A
guidebook which summarizes the new master plan process was
published by the Montgomery County Department of Park and
Planning in September 1997. Copies may be obtained at the
second floor information counter, 8787 Georgia Avenue, in
Silver Spring.
Master
Plan Facilitation
To
better insure that Master Plan recommendations are implemented
throughout the community building process, the Teams also
present community-based perspectives in the review of project
plans, preliminary plans of subdivision, site plans, and park
projects.
In
addition to the expanded role of the Teams in the regulatory
review process, staff also provides the Planning Board and
County Council with a biannual report on the progress to implement
each master plan, and a comprehensive biannual Capital
Improvements Program Review and Assessment.
Regulatory
Review
The
Community-Based Planning Teams analyze the special
exception, local zoning map amendment
and variance
caseload for the Planning Board's review. They also
analyze most mandatory referrals
within their areas; transportation and water and sewer projects
are generally coordinated by the Countywide Planning Division
with input from Community-Based Planning.
Community-Based
Planning Has Been Implemented By...
deploying
interdisciplinary teams on a permanent basis to seven geographic
areas in the County:
>Contact
Community Planning
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