The five-member Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, works to maintain and improve quality of life in communities throughout the 323,000-acre County. Meet the Planning Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on staff recommendations from the County Parks and Planning Departments, the Planning Board:
- Considers large- and small-scale plans for new development.
- Provides guidelines for the pattern and pace of growth and density.
- Develops and manages Montgomery County’s nationally recognized 32,900-acre park system.
- Recommends to the County Council those properties and sites worthy of historic designations.
The County Council appoints a member to serve no more than two, four-year terms. A member may also be appointed to serve an outgoing member’s unfulfilled term and is then eligible for appointment of up to two terms of his or her own.
The Planning Board typically meets each Thursday in the Planning Department auditorium (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) and welcomes public participation.
During a work session, Planning Board members review master and sector plans, planning policies and regulations in detail. At their direction, planners revise the working draft of a master or sector plan so it becomes the Planning Board Draft, which is sent to the County Council for rigorous review and adoption.
The Planning Board handles a wide variety of issues, but some recent areas of focus include:
Economic development:
- The role of economic analysis in planning decisions is more important than ever as Montgomery County competes with other jurisdictions for jobs and residents. The regulatory process for planning and development is being streamlined to make it less costly and time consuming.
- Transportation alternatives:
- Implementation of the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway, Bicycle Master Plan and other alternatives to the car remain central to land use and transportation policy in the County. The Planning Board also has proposed significant changes in the rules governing transportation infrastructure, with changes aimed at reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and encouraging transit, bicycling, and walking.
- Urban parks and recreation:</strong> As areas of our County become more urbanized, the need for parks that serve as centers of community is greater than ever. The Board consults Parks and Planning staff to make sure that our residents have quality ball fields, trails, and other park facilities for current and future generations to enjoy.
The Board considers recommendations and testimony from County agencies and other jurisdictions, such as Rockville and Gaithersburg, in making its decisions.
The Montgomery County Planning Board is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, a state-chartered bi-county agency formed in 1927 to protect the waterways around the District of Columbia. The Commission encourages a regional approach to planning. Once a month, both County Planning Boards come together for a single Commission meeting to address regional plans and projects.
The Planning Board encourages public participation at its meetings. Residents may consult the Planning Board Agenda page to view upcoming agendas and to sign up to testify at hearings. Written comments to the Planning Board may be sent to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org no later than 12 noon the day before the Planning Board hearing date. Contact the Commissioners’ Office at 301-495-4605.