What is The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission?
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) was created by the Maryland General Assembly in 1927 to protect open space and control development in parts of the Maryland suburbs next to the District of Columbia. The early law gave the Commission authority to plan for the physical development of the bi-county area of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties through a general plan, to acquire land to implement plans for parks, to determine the location of highways, to exercise subdivision control and to implement zoning regulations.
In 1939, the Maryland State Legislature enacted the Regional District Act (Article 28 of the Maryland Code) that provides the basic planning and zoning authority for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. By virtue of this authority, the M-NCPPC and the "District Councils" for each County exercise their various planning and zoning powers. It is the Regional District Act that enables the elected County Councils to act as the "District Councils" for their respective Counties.
The Commission's responsibility includes acquisition, development and maintenance of the park system within the two Counties. In Prince George's County only, the countywide recreation program is also the responsibility of the M-NCPPC. The Metropolitan District (referring to parks) and the Regional District (referring to planning, zoning, and subdivision) are defined for tax purposes. Together they embrace almost all of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties (approximately 1,000 square miles). Not covered are the municipalities of Gaithersburg, Rockville, Barnesville, Brookeville, Laytonsville, Poolesville and Washington Grove in Montgomery County, and Laurel in Prince George's County, all of which have their own planning and parks authority. In the City of Greenbelt in Prince George's County, the Commission exercises planning authority but not parks authority.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission consists of ten Commissioners, five appointed by Montgomery County and five by Prince George's County. The five members of the Commission from each County serve as a separate Planning Board to facilitate, review and administer the matters affecting only their respective Counties. To carry out their functions, the County Planning Boards meet at least once a week. The County Councils set priorities for the Planning Boards' park and planning work programs through annual review and determination of their operating and capital improvements budgets.
The Commission meets once a month to deal with regional planning or parks matters and administrative matters of interest to both Counties. The Chairs of each Board serve full time and act as Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission on a rotating basis.
Date of last update: October 5, 2007