Opinion ID: 2321542
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The MNCPPC

Text: The MNCPPC is an agency of the State of Maryland. Md.Code, Art. 28 § 1-101. It has at least two important functions relevant to this case, and performs those functions throughout most of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Md.Code, Art. 28 § § 3-101 to -107, 7-102 to -104. These functions are its planning and park functions: The Commission is a bi-county agency created by the General Assembly to develop both general and functional plans of proposed land development for the Washington Metropolitan District, which consists of most of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. See Maryland Code, Art. 28, § 7-108. That is the main planning function. In carrying out the general plan, the Commission is authorized to acquire property within the District for roads, parks, forests, and other recreation facilities, and to improve and control such property for those purposes. See id. § 5-101. That is the main park function. Boyle v. Md.-Nat'l Capital Park & Planning Comm'n, 385 Md. 142, 146, 867 A.2d 1050, 1053 (2005). The planning function is outlined, inter alia, in §§ 7-108 and 7-110, which state, in part: [§ 7-108] (a)(1) At the direction of the district council for Prince George's County or the district council for Montgomery County, as the case may be, hereinafter referred to in this section as the appropriate district council, the Commission shall initiate and adopt a general plan for the development of that portion of the Maryland-Washington Regional District located in each county and, from time to time, shall initiate and adopt amendments thereto. [Commission's authority to adopt a General plan]    (b)(1) The appropriate district council shall provide for its county, pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section, to the extent necessary and feasible: (i) That the Commission shall initiate and adopt, and the district council shall approve and from time to time amend a map showing the entire area of that county within the regional district, divided into local planning areas. Prior to the approval or amendment of the map, the district council shall consult with the Commission with respect to the boundaries of the local planning areas located wholly or partially within that county and, in the event of disagreement as to boundaries, the decision of the district council shall prevail within the area of its jurisdiction; (ii) That, in accordance with the work program and budget adopted by the county council of that county, the Commission shall initiate and adopt, and from time to time may amend or revise, a local master plan for each planning area, any part thereof, or any combination of contiguous planning areas; ... [Commission's authority to adopt local master plans]    (c)(1) The Commission may make and adopt and from time to time amend, and the district councils may approve and amend, functional master plans for the various elements of the general plan, including but not limited to master plans of highways, mass transit that includes light rail and busways, hospitals and health centers, parks and other open spaces, police stations, fire stations, and utilities ... [Commission's authority to adopt functional master plans]    [§ 7-110] The making of the general plan, including its parts, amendments, extensions, or additions, the protection of and the carrying out of the plan, and the exercise of all planning, platting, zoning, subdivision control, and all other powers granted in this title to the Commission or to the County Council of Montgomery County or the County Commissioners of Prince George's County shall be with the purposes of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, comprehensive, adjusted, and systematic development of the regional district, the coordination and adjustment of this development with public and private development of other parts of the State of Maryland and the of the District of Columbia, and the protection and promotion of the health, safety, morals, comfort, and welfare of the inhabitants of the regional district. Md.Code, Art. 28 §§ 7-108, 110. The MNCPPC's geographic jurisdiction to adopt and implement, in coordination with the counties' district councils, [11] the General Plan, as well as the local and functional master plans, is referred to as the Regional District, which consists of most of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. See Md.Code, Art. 28 § § 7-102 to -104. One of the few geographic exceptions to the MNCPPC's Regional District planning reach is municipal corporations that existed as of 1 June 1957 in Montgomery County, which are specifically exempted from the MNCPPC's and the Montgomery County Planning Board's planning and zoning powers. Md.Code, Art. 28 § 7-105. [12] The MNCPPC's park function is delegated to it, inter alia, in § 5-101, which provides, in part: (a) For the purpose of carrying out its general plans for the physical development of the metropolitan district, or any part thereof, the Commission may acquire land or other property located within the district for parks, parkways, forests, streets, roads, boulevards, or other public ways, grounds, or spaces, by means of donations, purchases, or condemnation. The Commission may improve and develop land or other property so acquired by it for these purposes and has the control of the maintenance and operation thereof. No general regulation governing these public ways, grounds, or open spaces within either Montgomery or Prince George's County may go into effect unless and until it receives the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Commission from that County.    Md.Code, Art. 28 § 5-101. The MNCPPC's geographic scope for acquiring land for parks, forests, streets, and other functions of its park function is referred to as the Metropolitan District, which also consists of most of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. See Md.Code, Art. 28 § § 3-101 to -107. Similar to the geographic coverage for planning within the Regional District, incorporated municipalities in Montgomery County are also exempted from the Metropolitan District for park purposes, and therefore the MNCPPC's park function, by virtue of § 3-103. [13]