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Project Overview
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In recent years, the Westphalia area has experienced increasing requests for
the development of new residential and commercial properties. In early 2005,
after receiving multiple, separate development proposals in the Westphalia area,
the Prince George’s County Planning Department and County Council began a consultant—led
planning study to help refine and update the vision for one, well planned, cohesive
community with adequate public facilities, as recommended by the 1994 Melwood-Westphalia
Master Plan. After numerous public input meetings and charrettes held during
2005, the resulting document, the Westphalia Comprehensive Concept Plan (WCCP)
Study, was finalized (see http://www.mncppc.org/cpd/Westphalia/westphalia_study.pdf).
In mid-January 2006, the Prince George’s County Planning Board and the Prince George’s County District Council directed M-NCPPC staff to prepare a sector plan and sectional map amendment (SMA) based on the aforementioned public input and vision established by the WCCP study document. The Westphalia Sector Plan and SMA was approved in Feb, 2007, and includes written and mapped recommendations addressing elements, such as land use and development patterns, existing communities, environmental infrastructure, the park system, transportation systems, public facilities, economic development, urban design, historic preservation and implementation.
This master plan fulfills different functions for different users:
- For elected officials, the master plan guides development policy for the programming of public facilities within the area and serves as the basis for comprehensive zoning decisions in the SMA.
- For public agencies, the master plan guides the scheduling of public facility improvements necessary to serve planned land uses.
- For planning staff, the master plan provides the basis for reviewing development applications and for making recommendations to the Planning Board and District (County) Council.
- For developers, the master plan provides guidance on the scale, location and type of development.
- For citizens and residents, the master plan will provide a predictable guide to changes in the development pattern for their community, and a strategy to ensure that adequate public facilities are provided concurrently.
An SMA has also been prepared to comprehensively rezone the area and implement the land use recommendations contained within the sector plan.
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