Last
week I
wrote about PG411-12 and had an opportunity to speak with Delegate
Valentino-Smith last week; a virtual interview about PG 411-12, a bill which
she is sponsoring.[1]
PG 411-12 would give that authority to any Prince George’s municipality with a
population of greater than 20,000.[2]
The Delegate believes that the "best
government is the most local government.
My first question then:
·
Thompson: "Why, Delegate, do you think the
best government is the most local one?"
o
Delegate Smith: " Government officials that
are at the level closest to the people can make the best decisions regarding
land use in their community because they know their community issues the best."
·
Thompson: "What about concerns that there
will be too many conflicting requirements leading to a plethora of local
designs; a mish-mash if you will?"
o
Delegate Smith: "The bill requires that the
Prince George’s County Zoning Code be used.
There need be no worry about conflicting zoning laws. Moreover, the bill streamlines the process. Currently, there is a municipal component, a
MNCPPC component and a County component to land use decisions. This bill will slash that process by 2/3. I
also point out that land use is already Balkanized in Prince George’s
County. For those who fear that
municipal land use authority will balkanize county land use practices, there is
already a balkanized county system with each of nine county councilmen deciding
land use for their own districts., Present land use laws in Prince George’s
County were first enacted in 1927. It is
time to bring those laws into the twenty-first century "
·
Thompson: "What about the cost to the local
communities? Won't this increase budgets at the municipal level? Won't the
cities have to hire additional professioanls staff?"
o
Delegate Smith: "Larger municipalities can
handle land use matters. They already
have planning departments that make recommendations to the County. Municipalities
have proven they can handle large developments.
The best new development in Montgomery County, the Kentlands, was done
by a municipality (Gaithersburg), not by MNCPPC and Montgomery County. Further why
single out our county? There is no
reason why Prince George’s County should be singled out as the only county in
the state prohibiting large municipality land use authority."
[1] Thompson.
PG 411-12 Local Zoning Authority for Bowie et al - - Qualifying Municipal
Corporations - Land Use Decisions. January 6, 2012. http://princegeorgian.blogspot.com/2012/01/pg-411-12-prince-georges-county.html
[2] Legislation
- Bill History. [accessed January 10, 2012] http://princegeorgian.blogspot.com/2012/01/pg-411-12-prince-georges-county.html
PG 411-12
|
Prince George's County - Qualifying Municipal Corporations -
Land Use Decisions
|
Sponsor
|
Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith
|
Synopsis
|
For the purpose of authorizing a governing body of a certain
municipal corporation by resolution to exercise the powers of the Prince
George's County Planning Board, the zoning hearing examiner for Prince
George's County, or the County Council for Prince George's County, sitting as
a district council, to make certain land-use decisions; subjecting the
exercise of certain powers by the governing body of a certain municipal
corporation to the substantial and procedural requirements and standards
established in the Prince George's County zoning ordinance; prohibiting a
governing body of a certain municipal corporation from amending the Prince
George's County zoning ordinance or adopting a municipal zoning ordinance;
granting a certain party of record a right to seek judicial review of the
certain decision; defining a certain term; and generally relating to land-use
decisions by governing bodies of municipal corporations in Prince Georges
County.
|
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