New Modernized Zoning Ordinance Levels Playing Field and Expands Critical Economic Development Opportunities
Today, Prince George’s County’s new Zoning Ordinance takes effect, updating the County’s 50-year-old zoning laws.
The County’s new Zoning Ordinance streamlines procedures and enhances user-friendliness; paves the way for achieving the economic, environmental, and other goals of Plan 2035, the County’s Adopted General Plan; encourages increased public input in the development review process; consolidates and simplifies zones and use; and incentivizes development at targeted growth locations, particularly in the County’s 15 transit-oriented communities.
Council Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II, says Prince George’s County is now positioned to expand and better capitalize on economic development opportunities to benefit County residents and communities.
“This process has been a huge undertaking and a long journey, but today we are launching a new and modern Zoning Ordinance that will reap great economic reward for Prince Georgians. I want to thank the Planning Board, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, my Council colleagues and our residents and stakeholders for their commitment to this process. I look forward to its implementation and to the many critical economic development opportunities that this new 21st Century Zoning Ordinance will present for our residents and communities.”
The Prince George’s County Council unanimously adopted CR-136-2021 in November 2021, approving the Countywide Sectional Map Amendment (CMA), the final phase of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite “ZOR” project to modernize the County’s current 50-year-old Zoning Ordinance. Final adoption of the CMA implemented the County’s Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations by updating the current zone on each property in the County. Under CR-136-2021, the County’s new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations become effective today, April 1, 2022. This completed a process started in 2014 with the adoption of the County’s Adopted General Plan.
District 4 Council Member Todd M. Turner, and District 3 Council Member Dannielle Glaros, who served in Council leadership during the adoption and implementation phases of the Council’s ZOR and CMA, say Prince George’s County is now poised to capitalize on the development opportunities that lead to greater prosperity for the County.
“Today, we are in a stronger position to successfully compete for critical development opportunities that grow our local economy in the region. As we approach the end of our second and final terms on the County Council, participating in the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite process has proved to be one of the most rewarding endeavors of our service. The new zoning laws will ensure County land is used in a way that enhances quality of life for our residents now and in the future. It is an effort we should all be very proud of.”
To review the new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations, click HERE.
-0-