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Comprehensive Master Plan Overview
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Rockville's Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) describes the vision for the City's future. The CMP guides development, conservation and capital improvement projects to improve the quality of life in the community. The plan must comply with the State of Maryland's regulatory requirements, one of which is a review every six years.
Topics addressed in the CMP include the City's goals and objectives, land use, urban design, housing, infrastructure, parks, open space, transportation, economic development and historic preservation.
The CMP is constantly under revision as the needs of the community change and state requirements are incorporated into the document. Residents are welcome to share input on the CMP and are encouraged to get involved.
News and Updates
Two New CMP Elements Adopted
At their December 13 meeting, the Mayor and Council amended Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) by adopting two new State-required elements: the Municipal Growth Element (MGE) and the Water Resources Element (WRE). To learn more about the elements, the adoption process and how to submit comments, visit the Municipal Growth and Water Resources Elements page.
CMP Review Complete
A review of the 2002 CMP took place in 2008-09. The review is complete and revisions will occur in two phases. Phase one is underway. To learn more about the scope and details of this project, visit the CMP Initiative page.
Montgomery County Heritage Area Management Plan
The City of Rockville has issued the Public Hearing Draft for the Amendment to the Montgomery County Heritage Area Management Plan that will bring select portions of the City into the State’s Heritage Area program.
Get Involved
Send comments or questions on the CMP and/or its associated neighborhood plans by e-mail to masterplan@rockvillemd.gov, giving your full name and address; or by mail to Long Range Planning Division, CPDS, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD, 20850.
You can also join an e-mail list to receive information on the Comprehensive Master Plan or call the Community Planning and Development Services Department at 240-314-8200.
To learn which section of the CMP and planning area your neighborhood is in, go to the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Click the "Locate Address" button. Enter your address on the form provided. Click "Locate" and scroll down the list to find your planning area. If you are unable to locate your planning area, call 240-314-8200.
Learn More
Comprehensive Master Plan Chapters and Related Plans
Review the 2002 CMP and other plans that have been adopted into the CMP and learn about the Rockville's Pike plan.
Related City Planning Documents
Strategic Scan 2010
An overview of current demographic, economic, and social conditions, as well as past and projected trends, the strategic scan outlines trends and conditions relevant to future policy decisions and the CMP.
Zoning Ordinance and Map
Using the CMP as a guide, the zoning ordinance contributes to the character of the city by regulating the types of buildings and the kinds of land uses allowed in different areas of Rockville.
City, County and State Planning Resources
The City's Long Range Planning and Implementation Division coordinates planning efforts with Montgomery County, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the State of Maryland, and ensures compliance with state planning requirements.
The plan must comply with the State of Maryland's regulatory requirements, as laid out in Article 66B of the State Code. Article 66B requires that the following actions must be taken:
— Hold at least one Public Hearing.
— Publish once a notice of the time and place of the Public Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation.
— Send a copy of the Draft Plan to State and local jurisdictions at least 60 days before the Public Hearing.
— The Planning Commission approves the Plan and recommends it to the local legislative body (the Mayor and Council in Rockville) for adoption.
— The Planning Commission report to the Mayor and Council should also include all the comments that were received from the State and local jurisdictions.
The full text of Article 66B can be found online. The State of Maryland provides additional guidance on the preparation of Master Plans.
The process outlined above is the State-required minimum. In practice, the City of Rockville conducts significantly more outreach than is required by State law, with the goal of getting broad-based citizen and other stakeholder participation in master plan processes.
Rockville is required to incorporate the State of Maryland's Twelve Planning Visions in the CMP. The planning visions guide growth and development policies and help to set priorities.
The state's Smart, Green and Growing Planning Guide describes the 12 visions and how they will be implemented. It also explains key planning laws and concepts.
Region Forward: A Comprehensive Guide for Regional Planning and Measuring Progress in the 21st Century, prepared by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, describes common planning challenges and demographic trends and outlines planning goals and objectives for the greater Washington D.C. area. On May 3, 2010 the Mayor and Council voted to endorse the document.