Opinion ID: 2056507
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The 2002 General Plan

Text: On 7 October 2002, the District Council approved a new General Plan [18] for the County, superceding the General Plan of 1982. Prince George's County, Md., Resolution No. CR-47-2002 (7 October 2002). The Commission was an active participant in the preparation of both General Plans. See id. (stating that the Commission initiated, with the concurrence of the District Council, the preparation of the General Plan, held open meetings and hearings, and published informational brochures regarding the General Plan). The sustaining purpose of the General Plan is to provide broad guidance for the future growth and development of Prince George's County while providing for environmental protection and preservation of important lands. This guidance is expressed as goals, objectives, policies, and strategies that, taken together, determine the preferred development pattern and the transportation system, public facilities and environmental features needed to accommodate that pattern. Md.-National Capital Park and Planning Comm'n, Prince George's County Approved General Plan 13 (2002). The General Plan adopted the growth tier structure of the Biennial Plan. It changed, however, the numeric growth objective for the Rural Tier from less than 0.75 percent to a goal of capturing less than 1 percent of the County's dwelling unit growth by the year 2025. Id. at 27. The General Plan states that this objective is a measure, among others, that will be used to gauge the success of [the Plan's] implementation. The General Plan described the Rural Tier as follows: The Rural Tier is comprised of the eastern and southern portions of the county in the Patuxent River, Potomac River, and Mattawoman Creek watersheds. It encompasses approximately 150 square miles, or approximately 32 percent of the county's total land area. The Rural Tier is the most scenic part of the county and is characterized by fine landscapes, most of the county's remaining farms, extensive woodlands, numerous streams, and diverse wildlife habitat. Development activity includes mining and widely dispersed, large-lot residential home sites. The community structure dates back over 300 years and historic roadways and structures dot the landscape. Public land holdings account for large portions of the Rural Tier, including extensive park and federal agency properties. Although large-lot estate development is anticipated in this Tier, it needs to be carefully balanced with agricultural pursuits and preservation to maintain its rural character. The preservation of the remaining environmentally sensitive features in this Tier is a priority for any future development. Id. at 40. The General Plan also described the vision[ [19] ] for the Rural Tier to be to protect large amounts of land for woodland, wildlife habitat, recreation and agricultural pursuits, and preservation of the rural character and vistas that now exist. Id. at 5. To achieve that vision, the General Plan lists seven goals: (1) [p]reserve environmentally sensitive features; (2) [r]etain sustainable agricultural land; (3) [m]aintain rural character; (4) [a]llow large-lot estate residences; (5) [l]imit nonagricultural land uses; (6) [p]rotect landowners' equity in their land; [and] (7) [m]aintain the integrity of a rural transportation system. Id. at 40. In 2008, the Commission published the General Plan Growth Policy Update for Prince George's County. The Growth Policy Update reported that, from 2002-2007, the Rural Tier of the County captured 3 percent of the County's total dwelling unit completions, compared to the less than 1 percent growth objective (if considered untethered from its temporal focus date of 2025) established in the General Plan.