Comprehensive Zoning

About

The County Council completed its consideration of Council Bill 32-2013 on July 25, when it adopted the bill as amended. The bill was signed into law on August 6, 2013, with Section 16.203 of the Howard County Code describing the process for comprehensive rezoning. Once every ten years, following the adoption of a new General Plan of Development, the County undertakes the comprehensive zoning process. This process involves consideration of the zoning maps and the zoning regulations for possible changes that will be consistent with the new General Plan.

Property owners were able to submit petitions or requests for zoning map and zoning regulation changes to the Department of Planning and Zoning in December 2012. Each requested map and text amendment requested was posted on the Department of Planning and Zoning's webpage with the Department and Planning Board's recommendations as of May 23, 2013.

The Planning Board held hearings on those requests and made recommendations on each of them. The Department of Planning and Zoning, after considering the recommendations of the Planning Board, developed a comprehensive zoning plan for the County Council’s consideration in June and July. The Council introduced Council Bill 32-2013 to implement the Department's recommended plan on June 3 at the Council’s regular legislative session. The Council adopted procedures for its comprehensive zoning process at its June legislative session. The Council scheduled 7 hearings and 14 work sessions during June and July, and the Council adopted a plan at its special legislative session on July 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building.

Comprehensive Zoning 2013 Hearings and Work Sessions