Countywide Planning Division

The Countywide Planning Division consists of four sections that work together on countywide issues providing planning services and technical support to the Department and other county, state and regional agencies.  

Environmental Planning

The Environmental Planning Section is responsible for programs related to the protection of the natural environment as well as human health and welfare issues.  The section evaluates the impact of land use plans and development proposals on air quality, noise, landscape features and habitat.  It also identifies appropriate mitigation measures and future waste treatment and disposal needs. Remote sensing, computer modeling and other innovative environmental methodologies are used to collect and analyze the data needed to respond in a systematic way to environmental issues. Comprehensive planning on a watershed basis is emphasized. The section prepares Environmental Impact Reports for sand and gravel mining proposals and coordinates programs that address woodland conservation, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and Rural Legacy issues.  

Historic Preservation and Public Facilities

Historic Preservation staff provides support to the Historic Preservation Commission through the review of Historic Area Work Permits, preservation tax credits, the preparation of architectural surveys and historic district studies, and preservation outreach. Staff also provides restored district assistance and advice to historic property owners on property maintenance and preservation. They produced a series of publications on community history and development, architecture and architectural history and design guidelines. Staff has a historic preservation resource library, and files on all documented properties.

Public Facilities Planning staff is responsible for activities and projects that address comprehensive public facility planning at the County level. Staff provides planning services for a variety of public facilities including schools, water, sewer, fire, police, and libraries. Public Facilities Planning staff are primarily responsible for developing functional master plans, adequate public facilities policies and technical support to the County's Police Department, Fire Department, Library System and the Board of Education.

Special Projects

The Special Projects Section is an interdisciplinary team responsible for providing technical advice on environmental issues and public facilities needs in the preparation of master and sector plans; preparing functional master plans; providing legislative support for state and county legislation by reviewing and/or preparing comments on environmental and public facility matters; conducting special environmental studies; and developing adequate public facilities policies.  The section is also responsible for activities and projects that address comprehensive public facility planning at the county level.  Staff provide planning services for a variety of public facilities including schools, water, sewer, fire, police, and libraries, and provides technical support to the county’s Police Department, Fire/EMS Department, Library System, and the Board of Education.

Transportation Planning

The Transportation Planning Section is responsible for the development, evaluation and maintenance of transportation master plans and associated maps and records; evaluation of the impact of development approvals on the transportation system; and coordination with State, County and Regional agencies in the preparation of transportation programs and project plans to implement the recommendations of approved master plans. The section reviews development proposals for right-of-way reservation issues and annually reviews the status of properties previously placed in reservation. The section provides transportation planning technical support to the County as needed on policy issues and provides support to the Transportation Demand Management Districts authorized by the District Council. The section is also responsible for coordination of the Countywide Trails Planning Program including providing staff support to the Bicycle/Trails Advisory Group.

Last update: 5/15/08