Skip to the content
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Home / Planning / Countywide Planning and Policy / Growth and Infrastructure Policy

Growth and Infrastructure Policy

The foundation of the Growth and Infrastructure Policy is that Montgomery County must have adequate infrastructure to support growth. This policy is the guide for administering the county’s adequate public facilities (APF) requirements.

The Planning Board only approves new development after determining that the surrounding infrastructure, such as sidewalks, roads, and schools, can meet the needs of new residents, visitors, and students. The GIP guides how the Planning Board makes that determination by setting standards for evaluating public infrastructure and the impact an individual development may have on it. It also outlines how a developer can bring infrastructure up to standard so the project can proceed. 

Montgomery Planning initiates an update to the GIP every four years to ensure that the county is using the best tools to advance our goals. The County Code directs the Planning Board to transmit a draft of the GIP to the County Council by August 1, 2024, and for the County Council to adopt the 2024-2028 policy by November 15, 2024.

As part of the 2024 GIP update, planners are focusing on:

  • Ensuring that the policy is equitable, fair, and effective;
  • Aligning the policy with the priorities identified in county plans and policies, including Thrive Montgomery 2050, the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, the Climate Action Plan, and the Vision Zero Action Plan.

Project Timeline

  • September 2023
    Initial Planning Board Briefing
  • October 2023-March 2024
    Community Engagement
  • October 2023-February 2024
    Schools Technical Advisory Team (STAT) and Transportation Advisory Group (TAG)
  • February / March 2024
    Planning Board Update
  • March 2024
    Community Roundtable
  • May 2024
    Planning Board Briefings
  • May 2024
    Planning Board Public Hearing
  • June-July 2024
    Planning Board Worksessions
  • July 2024
    Planning Board approval of Planning Board Draft and Resolution
  • September-November 2024
    County Council Public Hearing, Review and Approval