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Growth Policy Biennial Review

On odd-numbered years, the Montgomery County Council reviews issues related to growth and the adequate public facilities ordinance. In the past, this was referred to as the Annual Growth Policy "Policy Element" process. Beginning in 2005, the entire growth policy will be reviewed on a biennial basis.

The issues addressed in each review are those identified by the County Council in a variety of ways: by listing them in the most recent adopted growth policy resolution, by letter to the Montgomery County Planning Board, or during worksessions with Board members or staff.

On October 28, 2003, the Montgomery County Council approved revisions to the Annual Growth Policy that took effect on July 1, 2004. In addition, the County Council approved bill 31-03 amending the transportation impact tax and bill 9-03 creating a school impact tax. Both impact tax bills were effective March 1, 2004.

2003-2005 AGP Policy Element: "Top-to-Bottom" Review of the AGP

The 2003-2005 AGP Policy Element process was completed on October 28 when the County Council adopted a new AGP resolution to go into effect on July 1, 2004. Montgomery County Planning Board materials supporting the County Council deliberations are below.

Montgomery County Planning Board AGP Recommendations
(released August 6, 2003)

Item 1:

Sixteen-Page Color Summary

Item 2:

Planning Board Transmittal Letter

Item 3:

Teach-In Slide Show: Planning Board Recommendations

Item 4:

Teach-In Slide Show: Transportation and Economic Dev't

Item 5:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #3


Staff Reports for 2003 Planning Board Worksessions

July 31:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #6 (203KB)

July 17:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #5 (2.7 MB)

June 30:

Full Staff Memorandum for Worksession #4 (1.0 MB)
Staff Draft of "AGP Policy Concept" (207K)

June 12:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #3
Maps for June 12 Worksession (2.4 MB)

June 5:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #2 (3.5 MB)

May 22:

Staff Memorandum for Worksession #1 (1.6 MB)


Staff Draft 2003-2005 AGP Policy Element (posted May 5, 2003)

Section I:

Cover and Sumary of Recommendations (161K)

Section II:

Context (84K)
Tables for Section 2 (478K)
Maps for Section 2 (1.3MB)

Section III:

Testing the Adequacy of Transportation Facilities (193K)
Tables for Section 3 (193K)
Map for Section 3 (264K)

Section IV:

Testing the Adequacy of School Facilities (110K)
Tables for Section 4 (629K)

Section V:

Exemptions for Infill, Affordable Housing and Economic Development (164K)


Reports for the Montgomery County Planning Board's worksession
(02/20/03) and the Montgomery County Council's (02/25/03)
worksession (posted February 19, 2003)

Memo 1:

Study “Check-In” and Options for Detailed Evaluation (184K)

Memo 2:

Report on the Annual Growth Policy Focus Groups (210K)

Memo 3:

Impact of the Annual Growth Policy on the Pace of New Development (297K)

Memo 4:

Impact of the AGP on Montgomery County Traffic Congestion (412K)

Memo 5:

Factors Affecting School Enrollment Change (213K)

Memo 6:

38 Profiles in Growth Management (418K)


Report: "Assessing the Effectiveness of Montgomery County's
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance" (posted July 2, 2002)

Memo to Board, Cover, Abstract, and Table of Contents

Section I:

Purpose and Recommendations

Section II:

Overview of the Annual Growth Policy

Section III:

Blueprint for Assessment

Section IV:

Overall Evaluative Criteria

Section V:

Assessing the Effectiveness of Specific Provisions: Transportation

Section VI:

Assessing the Effectiveness of Specific Provisions: Public Schools

The County Council's review of the 2001-2003 Final Draft AGP Policy Element was completed in October 2001. A summary of the actions taken by the Council is available here.

Many questions about the AGP are answered in the About the AGP section. If you have additional questions, please contact:

Karl Moritz, Chief, Research and Technology Center, Park & Planning
301-495-5612
Karl.Moritz@mncppc-mc.org