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Planning Department:
Phone: (240) 313-2430
Fax: (240) 313-2431 


Planning & Community
Development -
Development Review Process

Ag Land Preservation Bloody Lane, Antietam National Battlefield Potomac River, Williamsport, MD Rails-to-Trails, Big Pool, MD Aerial View of Hump Rd

New Plan Approval Process

On August 3, 2009, the Department of Planning and the Department of Land Development Engineering will begin to process land development plans for review and approval under a new Plan Approval Process.  The Washington County Planning Department will be the only submission point for all new project submittals. All plans will be submitted as a pre-packaged submission prepared by the applicant.  The Planning Department will screen the submission and distribute each of the reviewing Agency packages. Incomplete submittals will be returned to the applicant and will not be distributed.  All revised submissions must be processed through the Planning Department as a prepackaged submittal.

In addition, as of August 3, 2009, plan review fees will be collected by the Planning Department for the Washington County Soil Conservation District, the Department of Land Development Engineering and Planning Department at the time of project submittal. The goal is to have all county fees paid at the time of submission. Applicant shall submit a completed fee summary with fee payment at the first submittal.  In addition, each agency package shall include a fee calculation worksheet.  Fees will be paid with one check made out to the Washington County Treasurer’s Office.  Additional fees may be assessed at a later date and must be paid prior to originals being signed

The new process will allow for concurrent agency reviews. There will also be an opportunity for reviewing agency coordination through the formation of the Development Advisory Committee (DAC) for most plan submissions. Plan submissions that will be reviewed by the DAC include:

      • Preliminary Consultation Plan
      • Preliminary Plat with Road Improvements
      • Preliminary Plat without Road Improvements
      • Preliminary/Final Plat with Road Improvements
      • Final Plat with Road Improvements
      • Final Plat without Road Improvements
      • Type I, II, III PUD
      • Minor Site Plan with disturbance > 5000 sq. ft.
      • Site Plan without Road Improvements
      • Site Plan With Road Improvements
      • Grading Plan with disturbance >15,000 sq. ft.

The DAC will review initial plan submissions within 4 weeks of receiving the submission from the Department of Planning.  DAC meetings will be held once a week to discuss review comments and to allow applicants of plan submittals to meet with all agencies at one time.

The Table below provides a brief outline of the Plan Approval Process (to view a flow chart of the Plan Approval Process, click this link):

Plan Approval Process

Summary of Step Actions

Step 1

Submit Prepackaged Plan Submission to Planning Department

  • Applicant assembles agency submittal package
  • Completed Agency Transmittal required
  • Completed Fee Summary Sheet and fee payment
  • Completed Agency Fee Calculation Sheet
  • Completed Agency Checklist

Step 2

Planning Department Screens Submittal and Distributes to All Agencies

  • Planning Department schedules DAC meeting (4 weeks after submission distributed)
  • Incomplete submissions returned to applicant

Step 3

DAC Meeting Held

  • DAC agency reviews for certain plan types
  • DAC agency comments due to Planning Department 1 week after DAC meeting
  • DAC meetings scheduled every week
  • If preliminary consultation plan, applicant invited to DAC meeting

Step 4

Plan Review Comments Forwarded to Consultant from Dept. of Planning

  • Preliminary consultation plan submitted to Planning Commission for review
  • All other plans, comments forwarded to Applicant

Step 5

Applicants May Request to Meet with DAC at Future Meeting

  • Applicant must call Department of Planning 1 week before next DAC meeting to get on next DAC meeting agenda
  • Meeting requests only for plans that have been previously reviewed in a DAC meeting

Step 6

Design Professional Responds to Agency Comments

  • Agencies can be contacted directly for comment clarification and discussion
  • No individual agency submissions

Step 7

Applicant Resubmits Plans to Planning Department

  • All resubmittals must go through Planning Department
  • All resubmittals must be prepackaged by applicant
  • Resubmittals shall address ALL agency comments
  • Completed Agency Transmittal required
  • Completed Agency Checklist (if required by agency)
  • Applicant to include redlined plans in all agency packages
  • Resubmittal copies for ALL reviewing agencies

Step 8

Planning Department Distributes Resubmittals to All Approving Agencies

  • All resubmitted plans to be reviewed must be distributed by the Planning Department
  • Copies distributed to ALL reviewing agencies

Step 9

Approving Agencies Review Plans and Provide Comments

  • Agency has 30 days to submit comments back to Planning Department
  • All comments sent directly to applicant and Planning Department
  • Planning Department compiles comments and forwards to applicant

Step 10

Resubmittal Approved or Revision Required

  • Agency approvals entered into computer tracking system
  • Approved plans scheduled for Planning Commission Review

Step 11

Planning Commission Review

  • Planning Commission reviews plan
  • Originals requested for approved plans
  • Revisions requested for rejected plans
  • Revisions requested for approved plans
  • Staff approval

Step 12

Fees Reconciled and Originals Submitted

  • Originals signed by signing agencies
  • Approval agency inputs fees due under “lock holds and notices”
  • Planning Department will not sign originals until all fees are paid

Step 13

End of Plan Review Process for Activity Submitted

 

 


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