HomeMy WebLinkAboutH_2011_AnnualReport
Washington County Planning Commission
Annual Report on Growth Related Changes
Per SB 280/HB 295 effective June 1, 2009
Prepared by the Washington County Planning Commission for the period
January 2011 through December 2011
1. Development Patterns – List of all changes in development patterns that have
occurred over the past year, including:
a. New subdivisions created:
i. Total new residential lots – 48
1. New urban lots – 14
2. New rural lots – 34
ii. Total new commercial lots – 3
1. New urban lots – 2
2. New rural lots - 1
b. New Building Permits issued - 38
i. Residential Permits inside PFA – 14
ii. Commercial Permits inside PFA – 2
iii. Residential Permits outside PFA – 20
iv. Commercial Permits outside PFA – 2
c. Zoning Map Amendments
i. RZ-11-001 – Map Amendment This map amendment is for
property located on both sides of Old Forge Rd, near Hagerstown,
to allow for the expansion of an existing quarry which is outside of
the UGA. This action applied the IM (Industrial Mineral) floating
Zone over 120.11 acres currently zoned A (Agricultural).
ii. RZ-11-004 – Rosewood PUD (Inside UGA) Increased the level of
commercial uses from 17.89% to 29.31% (Planning Vision # 4)
d. Zoning Text Amendments that resulted in changes in development
patterns. RZ-11-003 (Text Amendment) – On October 4, 2011, the Board
of County Commissioners approved a text amendment to add Solar
Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) as special exception use allowed in
the A(R) - Agricultural Rural, EC - Environmental Conservation, P-
Preservation, IG-Industrial General and 1M - Industrial Mineral zoning
districts. (PV#’s 1, 8,11)
e. New Comprehensive Plans or plan elements adopted: The revision and/or
creation of zoning classifications in the Growth Areas has been reviewed
by the Planning Commission, with a final proposal delivered to the Board
of County Commissioners for review, comment, and approval. (Adopted
on April 17, 2012) As a result, new development will continue to be
directed into the Urban Growth Area in a continuation of the goals of the
Comprehensive Plan.
f. New Roads or substantial changes in roads or other transportation
facilities: New roads reflect subdivision roads accepted into County
ownership during 2011. This means that the construction was completed
to County standards. Other roads are currently under design or
construction per subdivision plans. Capital projects are new or widening
road projects that the County will fund.
i. New roads:
Norway Maple Drive – 120 Feet
Maple Valley – 709 Feet
Corello Drive – 600 Feet (Inside UGA)
Red Maple Drive – 566 Feet
Total: 0.38 miles new roads in 2011
j. 2011 Capital Projects:
Marsh Pike and Longmeadow Road Intersection Improvements
(construction will be complete on or about 6/12)
Robinwood Corridor Improvements (widening) (design stage)
Southern Blvd Phase 1A (new road) (design stage) (Inside UGA)
Eastern Blvd Improvements (widening) (design stage)
Yale Drive Extended (new road) (design stage)
g. New Schools or additions to schools – Ruth Anne Monroe Primary school
opened during this calendar year. This facility for grades K – 2 eased the
overcrowding at the adjacent Eastern Elementary School. The site design
and location allows for some pedestrian access; and coordination of
transportation with Eastern Elementary School. (Inside UGA)
h. Other changes in development patterns - In February of 2011, the Board
of County Commissioners approved a resolution to implement a
Residential Stimulus Program to waive a portion of the Excise Tax due on
residential building permit applications. The program applied to all
permits issued between March 1 and October 31, 2011 for new residential
1 or 2 family dwellings or additions. The program was designed to address
high unemployment in the County by providing an incentive to new
construction. The goal of this program is to encourage new home and
residential addition construction projects by providing temporary relief in
the application of the Washington County Excise Tax.
2. Maps –
a. New residential lots – inside and outside PFAs
b. Residential Building Activity inside and outside PFAs
c. Map changes
3. Consistency – Changes which occurred during the 2011 calendar year were
minimal and consistent with each other, the recommendations of the last annual
report, the adopted portions of the Comprehensive Plan, and those of adjoining
jurisdictions and those jurisdictions which have responsibility for financing or
constructing the public improvements necessary to implement the local
jurisdiction’s plan.
4. Process Improvements – During the latter part of calendar year 2010, county
leadership developed a new operating format for departments directly involved in
the planning and development process. The resulting reorganization of the
departments of Permits and Inspections, Engineering, and Planning and
Community Development, (effective April 1st, 2011), created three new
departments. The Department of Plan Review and Permitting consolidated and
streamlined all plan review and permitting functions under one department, with
the purpose of facilitating development in the UGA. The Planning and Zoning
Department will handle comprehensive planning and zoning issues. Engineering
and Inspection is responsible for design, instruction, project management, and all
inspections.
5. Ordinances and/or regulations that have been changed or adapted to implement
the planning visions in Article 66B: RZ-11-003 (Text Amendment) – On
October 4, 2011, the Board of County Commissioners approved a text amendment
to add Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) as special exception use allowed
in the A(R) - Agricultural Rural, EC - Environmental Conservation, P-
Preservation, IG-Industrial General and 1M - Industrial Mineral zoning districts.
(PV#’s 1, 8,11)