The Montgomery County Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (“Planning Board”) is updating the Subdivision Staging Policy (“SSP”).  We anticipate practical and innovation changes will be made to the transportation tests.  The SSP (formerly the Growth Policy) assures that there are adequate public facilities available for development, such as transportation infrastructure and schools. The SSP is reviewed and updated every four years by the Planning Board and then sent to the Montgomery County Council for review, comment and adoption.  The current SSP update is scheduled for Montgomery County Council adoption in November 2016.

This SSP update is looking to revamp (and possibly consolidate) the existing transportation tests – Local Area Transportation Review (“LATR”) and Transportation Policy Area Review (“TPAR”). Policy Area Mobility Review (“PAMR”) was previously replaced with TPAR. The general concept behind this SSP appears to be transportation review based on the location of the development, whether it is in an urban, suburban or rural area of Montgomery County, as well as the idea that all development should pay its pro-rata share based on the trips it is proposed to generate.    

The Planning Board’s draft SSP is anticipated in May 2016.  Prior to its transmittal to the County Council (scheduled for August 1, 2016), the Planning Board will hold work sessions on the draft SSP and a public hearing in June 2016.  In addition to the community meetings that have been held to date, there is still time for your voice to be heard.  Click here to learn more about the SSP changes and its timeline moving forward.  

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