Annapolis, MD (October 16, 2024) – County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ) announced the opening of applications for zoning changes and the launch of the questionnaire to help craft the vision for Regions 5, 6, and 8. Property owners or their representatives can submit zoning change requests until 11:59 p.m. on December 16. Vision questionnaires close on November 1.
“The Region Planning process is about more than maps and zoning—it’s about residents shaping the future of their communities,” said County Executive Pittman. “The insights we gather through these questionnaires and the work of our Stakeholder Advisory Committees ensure that every voice matters and every perspective is part of the plan. I encourage everyone to get involved and help us create a vision that reflects the hopes and needs of these regions.”
Regions 5, 6, and 8 cover the following areas:
- Region 5 covers the MD 3 corridor, the Odenton Town Center, and surrounding communities including Two Rivers, Forks of the Patuxent, Gambrills, and Crofton.
- Region 6 includes the community of Crownsville and the surrounding area, a portion of the I-97 corridor, and parts of Millersville.
- Region 8 includes Davidsonville, Harwood, Lothian, Friendship, and parts of Edgewater.
The County’s zoning maps are being updated as part of the ongoing Region Plan process to reflect changes in the adopted land use plan in the County General Development Plan, Plan2040. Zoning regulates the type and the scale of property uses that can be developed in different locations. County staff will draft revised zoning maps, and Stakeholder Advisory Committees will review proposed map changes for each Region. Community members in these Regions will have opportunities to review and comment on the draft zoning changes in 2025; sign up for email notifications at aacounty.org/opzsignup to receive Region Plan updates.
To support the development of a vision statement for each Region, OPZ is also seeking input from the public. Vision Questionnaires are now available online at aacounty.org/regions. Access the Visioning Questionnaire for Region 5, Region 6, and Region 8 online. Responses to the questionnaires will be accepted until 11:59 pm on November 1, 2024.
The input gathered through the Vision Questionnaires will be instrumental in shaping a vision statement for each Region. The Region’s vision statement will serve as a compass, encapsulating aspirations for the future and providing a clear direction for the creation of a master plan. These statements are meant to articulate the future that the community envisions and desires, and Region Plans will outline strategies for realizing these vision statements.
Statements in Vision Questionnaires address common themes such as the environment, history and culture, land use, housing, economic development, transportation, recreation, and public services. Each questionnaire is tailored to capture the distinct characteristics, needs, and goals of its respective Region. Statements for consideration emerged from public engagement conducted in the Spring and Summer of 2024, including outreach events, online feedback opportunities, and stakeholder interviews. A comprehensive summary of these activities will be available on Region 5, 6, and 8 Hub sites later this month.
County Executive Pittman also announced the selection of individuals appointed to serve on Stakeholder Advisory Committees for Regions 5, 6, and 8. The SACs play a key role in developing Region Plans, meeting monthly with OPZ to collaborate on community-level goals and strategies, and making recommendations on proposed zoning changes during the comprehensive zoning process. One of the committees' first objectives is to develop a vision statement for each Region.
County Executive Pittman and the Anne Arundel County Council worked together to select members of the committees, aiming for representation from a diverse mix of each Region’s civic, business, environmental, and other stakeholders, including residents of the planning area or those who own or manage a business within the planning area. Names and affiliations of the SAC members are available in Resolution No. 34-24 (Region 5), Resolution No. 35-24 (Region 6), and Resolution No. 36-24 (Region 8).
The County is completing nine Region Plans in total, in groups of three Regions at a time: the first set of Region Plans for Regions 2, 4, and 7 are complete; drafts of Region Plans for Regions 1, 3, and 9 are with the Planning Advisory Board and available for public review; Regions 5, 6, and 8 are the final set of Region Plans.
For more information on the region planning process, visit aacounty.org/regions.