Comprehensive Rezoning Deadline is 12/14/12

From Howard County's Department of Planning and Zoning:

Deadline Fast Approaching for Comprehensive Rezoning Proposals

The Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) is accepting proposals for zoning map and regulation amendments through December 14, 2012.  Any property owner may request a zoning map change on their property.  For example, if a property is zoned for residential use, but the owner of that property wants the property zoned for business use, a request may be submitted.  Requests for zoning regulation changes, also known as text changes, may be made by anyone.  Until December 14, 2012, proposals for both types of zoning changes should be made via the official request forms, which can be found on the County’s website (www.howardcountymd.gov/compzoning). 
The 2012 Comprehensive Rezoning effort will include the following steps:

1.    DPZ accepts requests for zoning map and regulation changes

2.    DPZ compiles and evaluates all requests

3.    DPZ submits recommended changes to Planning Board and posts all properties

4.    Planning Board conducts a public hearing on recommendations

5.    Planning Board submits recommended actions to the Administration and County Council

6.    The Administration’s revised proposal is introduced as legislation to the County Council for its consideration

7.    County Council holds a public hearing

8.    County Council votes on recommendations

For general information and questions about the comprehensive rezoning process, residents may submit specific inquiries via email at compzoning@howardcountymd.gov and/or contact the County’s information line at 410-313-0500. 

What is Howard County 2012 Comprehensive Zoning?

          Zoning or rezoning in Howard County is primarily conducted in two ways.  Approximately every ten years, the County Council undergoes a legislative process called comprehensive zoning during which county officials review the entire county zoning map, hold hearings, and, ultimately, making a legislative decision about how to best assign zones throughout the county.  In between Comprehensive Zoning cycles, through a process called piecemeal rezoning, individual property owners can petition for a rezoning of a particular parcel of land if the property owner can establish that there was a mistake during the last Comprehensive Zoning cycle that resulted in an incorrect zoning assignment or that there has been a significant change to the area such that the current zoning category is inconsistent.  The Zoning Board (which, in reality, is comprised of the County Council members, but in this forum they are wearing different “hats”) then makes a quasi-judicial determination whether the facts support a rezoning of the property.

       The 2012 Howard County Comprehensive Zoning process has begun. The Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning ("DPZ") will be making recommendations for both "Map Amendments" and "Zoning Regulation Amendments" ("ZRA") to the County Council. A “Map Amendment” is a zoning change that will result in the assignment of a different zone to a parcel or parcels of property during the zoning review process (for instance, a "residential use" property could be changed to a "commercial use" property). A ZRA is a change to the text of the Howard County Zoning Regulations (for instance, the minimum lot size for a residence could be changed to allow more houses in a development).

         In addition to recommendations being made by DPZ, property owners can submit applications for Map Amendments starting October 15 through December 14.  Property Owners may also submit proposals for ZRA's. All of these applications will be reviewed by DPZ, the Planning Board and the County Council. Any requested change must be in harmony with the new General Plan for the County, called PlanHoward2030, which is now in effect and sets the parameters for zoning preferences and sets forth the general land use goals for the County for the next 10 to 20 years.

       Whether or not a property owner wishes to submit an application for a map amendment or ZRA, all residents of the County can find out what changes are being requested and attend the public meetings and hearings to weigh in on proposed changes.   

                             

HoCo Announces Comprehensive Rezoning!

Howard County’s Department of Planning and Zoning announced today that it will launch
 the countywide rezoning process and will be accepting proposals for zoning map and regulation
amendments between October 15 and December 14, 2012. For more information, see the announcement sent out by the county today (.pdf).