# Land Use (GLU) ## Title 21. Regional District Plan ### Subtitle 2. Development and Adoption #### Section 21-201 (a) This subtitle is intended to vest control over planning procedures in the district councils of Montgomery County and Prince George's County, to the extent that control is not inconsistent with this division. (b) Nothing contained in this subtitle authorizes a transfer or dilution of planning authority or responsibility vested in the Commission, county planning boards, or district councils as of October 1, 1959. #### Section 21-202 (a) (1) The Commission may initiate a plan or part of a plan with the concurrence of the district council of the county or counties in which the area of the proposed plan is located. (2) The review by the district council of the proposed budget of the Commission and the approval by the district council of the planning schedule that is contained in the budget constitutes concurrence in the initiation of plans proposed in the budget for any single fiscal year. (b) The district council may modify the planning schedule contained in the proposed budget. (c) The district council may direct the Commission to initiate a plan or part of a plan. (d) The Commission shall initiate the plan or part of the plan under subsection (c) of this section with reasonable promptness to the extent funds are available for that purpose. #### Section 21-203 (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission shall adopt a plan by resolution with the affirmative votes of at least six commissioners, of whom at least three shall be from Montgomery County and at least three shall be from Prince George's County. (2) To adopt an area master plan or a functional master plan that lies entirely within one county, the affirmative votes of three commissioners from that county shall suffice to adopt the plan. (b) (1) The resolution to adopt a plan shall refer expressly to the maps and the descriptive and other matter that the Commission intends to form the whole or part of the plan. (2) Any action taken shall be recorded on the map, plan, or descriptive matter by the identifying signature of the chair and secretary-treasurer of the Commission. #### Section 21-204 (a) In preparing and making a plan and in exercising the zoning, planning, subdivision control, and other powers granted to the Commission under this division, the Commission may act in conjunction and cooperation with the National Capital Planning Commission. (b) The Commission is the representative of the State to the National Capital Planning Commission. (c) For the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may enter into commitments and agreements with the National Capital Planning Commission as the Commission considers necessary. (d) The Commission may act in conjunction and cooperation with other representatives or officers of the United States government or of the District of Columbia or of this State, including the Department of Planning and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, or of the Commonwealth of Virginia or of Montgomery County or Prince George's County or of any district, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision in these states or counties. #### Section 21-207 This part applies in Montgomery County. #### Section 21-208 (a) (1) After a public hearing, the district council shall establish by local law or subsequent amendment to the local law procedures for the Commission to submit, adopt, and approve a plan or part of a plan. (2) The district council shall publish notice of the time and place of the public hearing in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing. (b) The procedures established in accordance with subsection (a) of this section: (1) may include requirements for submission to and approval by the district council of preliminary concepts, guidelines, goals, or plans; (2) shall include adoption of a plan by the Commission after at least one public hearing, notice of the time and place of which shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing; (3) may include procedures for the approval of a plan by the district council; (4) shall include a method for the Commission to certify and file a plan in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court of Montgomery County; and (5) shall include provisions for the Commission to publish an adopted and approved plan. #### Section 21-209 (a) Notwithstanding Sec. 21-208 of this subtitle, when the Commission initiates a master plan or an amendment to a master plan, the Commission shall notify the County Executive of the work schedule of the Commission. (b) (1) The County Executive shall provide to the Commission, as early as possible, information on matters including transportation, water and sewer, and other public facility and public services and fiscal portions of the plan or amendment. (2) The County Executive may provide to the Commission other studies and information the County Executive considers pertinent to the preparation of the plan or amendment. #### Section 21-210 On completion of a master plan or master plan amendment, the county planning board shall transmit: (1) the plan or amendment to the district council; and (2) copies of the plan or amendment to the County Executive. #### Section 21-211 Within 60 days after the transmission of a copy of a master plan or master plan amendment to the County Executive under Sec. 21-210 of this subtitle, the County Executive shall transmit a fiscal impact analysis to the district council with other comments and recommendations the County Executive considers appropriate. #### Section 21-212 (a) Within 180 days after the receipt of the County Executive's comments, recommendations, and fiscal impact analysis as provided in Sec. 21-211 of this subtitle, the district council shall approve, modify, or disapprove the master plan or master plan amendment. (b) On a vote of two-thirds of those present and voting, the district council may extend, by sequential 60-day intervals, the 180-day period for review and action on the master plan or master plan amendment provided in subsection (a) of this section. (c) Failure of the district council to act within the time limits imposed under this section constitutes approval of a master plan or master plan amendment as submitted by the county planning board. #### Section 21-215 This part applies in Prince George's County. #### Section 21-216 (a) (1) After a public hearing, the district council shall establish by local law or subsequent amendment to the local law procedures for the Commission to initiate, submit, adopt, and amend a plan or part of a plan, and for the district council to approve or amend a plan or part of a plan. (2) The district council shall publish notice of the time and place of the public hearing in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing. (b) The procedures established in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall: (1) include requirements for the district council to approve preliminary concepts, guidelines, and goals; (2) provide for one or more public hearings on the plan to be held jointly by the Commission and the district council, at the direction of the district council, after 30 days' notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; (3) include provision for the Commission to adopt a plan after the public hearing, and for the district council to approve the plan; (4) include a method to certify and file an approved plan in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County; and (5) include provisions for the Commission to publish an adopted and approved plan. #### Section 21-217 (a) The procedures established in Sec. 21-216 of this subtitle shall include review of preliminary plans by the district council and the County Executive to identify inconsistencies between the plan and existing or proposed State or county facilities, including roads, highways, or other public facilities. (b) The district council shall direct the Commission how to eliminate or accommodate in the plan any inconsistency identified under subsection (a) of this section. --- Md. Code Ann., Land Use (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)