Public Comment Period Remains Open for Master Plan Elements Through June 16

[Howard Hartman]

For Immediate Release June 11, 2010

Public Comment Period Remains Open for
Master Plan Elements Through June 16

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 11, 2010 -The City of Rockville invites comments on the proposed changes to the Master Plan for the City. Comment should focus on the addition of two new state-required elements: the Municipal Growth Element and Water Resource Element.

Drafts of the documents for both elements can be viewed below. The City invites comments, which can be submitted:

• online through the growth elements web page
• by e-mail to masterplan@rockvillemd.gov, giving your full name and address; or
• by mail to Long Range Planning Division, CPDS, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD, 20850.

Comments submitted prior to June 16 will be included as part of the Planning Commission process. Those submitted after June 16 will be considered, in addition to all comments and materials, as part of the Mayor and Council process. The Mayor and Council will also hold a public hearing at a later date.

The Municipal Growth Element discusses how and where population and employment growth is likely to occur and assesses the impacts of projected growth on public services and infrastructure such as police, fire and emergency medical services, schools, libraries and parks.

The Water Resources Element identifies water resources for drinking and other purposes that are necessary to meet the needs that arise from projected growth. Receiving waters and wastewater treatment areas are identified. This element is also concerned with water resource protection, ground water resources, water quality standards and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

The Municipal Growth and Water Resources Elements are new requirements of Article 66 B of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended by House Bill (HB 1141) in 2006. House Bill 1141 requires that all municipal comprehensive plans in Maryland include Municipal Growth and Water Resources Elements. Every municipality in Maryland with planning authority is required to adopt these technical elements into its comprehensive plan by Oct. 1, 2010. Information on state requirements, including on these two new elements, can be found at: http://www.mdp.state.md.us/OurWork/C...irements.shtml.

For more information on the Municipal Growth Element, call David Levy, chief of long range planning, or Manisha Tewari, planner in the Department of Community Planning and Development Services, at 240-314-8200 or e-mail at dlevy@rockvillemd.gov or mtewari@rockvillemd.gov. Information on the Water Resources Element can be obtained from Mark Charles, chief of environmental management, at 240-314-8870 or mcharles@rockvillemd.gov.

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