Policy addresses adequacy of Montgomery County’s public facilities as part of the development approval process
Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), will be briefed on preliminary recommendations for the 2024-2028 update to the county’s Growth and Infrastructure Policy at its meeting on Thursday, March 14. The Growth and Infrastructure Policy (GIP), updated every four years, ensures infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks, and schools, is adequate to support growth. It is also vital to advancing the goals established in Thrive Montgomery 2050, the recently approved and adopted General Plan for Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Code requires the Planning Board to transmit a draft of the updated GIP to the Montgomery County Council by August 1, 2024. The County Council will adopt the 2024-2028 policy by November 15, 2024. The GIP is updated every four years to ensure that the tools used for evaluating and mitigating the impact of new development on essential public facilities reflect the county’s latest growth context and policy priorities.
Focus of the 2024-2028 GIP update
As part of the 2024 GIP update, Montgomery Planning staff is focused on:
- Examining policy outcomes to ensure that the existing tools are equitable, fair, and effective.
- Ensuring the policy helps advance the goals established in the county’s General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050.
- Analyzing the county’s current growth trends.
- Evaluating implementation guidelines, such as the Local Area Transportation (LATR) Guidelines and Annual School Test Guidelines.
- Reviewing development impact taxes.
“The preliminary recommendations for the update to the Growth and Infrastructure Policy will encourage development in key growth areas while providing supportive critical infrastructure,” said Montgomery Planning Director Jason Sartori. “We are continuing to invite community members to provide their thoughts and ideas on these draft recommendations to ensure the policy is aligned with the county’s priorities and current growth context.”
Community members are invited to provide feedback
Montgomery Planning invites community members to participate in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, March 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to learn more about the preliminary recommendations for the 2024-2028 update to the GIP and provide feedback to planners. The meeting will be conducted on Microsoft Teams and there will be opportunities for Q&A. The presentation will be recorded and posted to the GIP website. Community members are encouraged to remain updated and informed by signing up for the GIP eletter.
RSVP for the Tuesday, March 19 virtual community meeting.
The presentation of the preliminary recommendations follows a briefing on Montgomery County’s growth trends to the Planning Board on February 22, 2024. Staff analyzed the county’s current growth context, including recent and forecasted trends in population, households, and employment. View the presentation.
Since the Planning Board’s approval of the 2024 GIP Scope of Work in September 2023, there have been many equitable community engagement activities. These activities have included a community kickoff meeting and regular sessions with the Schools Technical Advisory Team (STAT) and the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG):
- Community kickoff meeting on October 17, 2023 – Presentation | Video
Schools:
- STAT Meeting #1 presentation, November 7, 2023, 7-9 p.m. (hybrid)
- STAT Meeting #2 presentation, December 6, 2023, 6-8 p.m. (hybrid)
- STAT Meeting #3 presentation, January 16, 2024, 6-8 p.m. (hybrid)
- STAT Meeting #4 presentation, February 20, 2024, 6-8 p.m. (hybrid)
Transportation:
- TAG Meeting #1 presentation, November 6, 2023, 3-5 p.m. (virtual)
- TAG Meeting #2 presentation, December 11, 2023, 3-5 p.m. (virtual)
- TAG Meeting #3 presentation, January 22, 2024, 3-5 p.m. (virtual)
- TAG Meeting #4 presentation, February 26, 2024, 3-5 p.m. (virtual)
About the Growth and Infrastructure Policy
The Growth and Infrastructure Policy—one of the many ways that Montgomery Planning helps to preserve the excellent quality of life in Montgomery County—assesses whether infrastructure is adequate to support growth. It includes criteria and guidance for the administration of Montgomery County’s Adequate Public Facility Ordinance (APFO), which matches the timing of private development with the availability of public infrastructure. Every four years, an effort to update the Growth and Infrastructure Policy originates with Montgomery Planning before working its way through the Planning Board and the County Council. The purpose is to ensure that the best available tools are used to test whether infrastructure like schools, transportation, water, and sewer services can support future growth. View the 2020-2024 Growth and Infrastructure Policy.
Resources:
- View the Growth and Infrastructure Scope of Work staff report
- Watch the Growth and Infrastructure Scope of Work presentation
- Growth and Infrastructure Policy webpage
- Growth and Infrastructure Policy explainer
- Briefing to the Planning Board – overview of the Growth and Infrastructure Policy (June 15, 2023)