The
Rural Tier, as designated by the 2002 Prince
George’s County General Plan,
encompasses approximately 150 square miles,
or 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.
The
General
Plan's goals for this area are to:
- Preserve environmentally sensitive features.
- Retain sustainable agricultural land.
- Maintain rural character
- Allow large-lot estate residences.
- Limit non-agricultural land uses.
- Protect landowners’ equity in their
land.
- Maintain the integrity of a rural transportation system.
The
Rural Tier planning study addresses
strategies to implement
these goals and the recommendations
of the General
Plan.
Opportunities and constraints
for new
development and agricultural and open
space preservation are
identified. This projectl
also investigated the feasibility
of implementation tools
such as transfers and/or purchases of development
rights
and rural character
design guidelines for new development.
The Rural
Tier Planning Study was prepared by the consultant team
of Freilish, Leitner & Carlisle/Planning Works.
The consultant recommended a number of tools
to achieve the General Plan's Rural Tier goals,
policies and objectives. These tools have been
discussed over four meetings of the Zoning Ordinance
Task Force. To date, these discussuions have
not resulted in a recommendation from the Task
Force.
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