Vice Chair Blegay Presents Legislation to Establish
Plan Prince George’s 2035 Implementation and Infrastructure Task Force
Task Force to Focus on Land Use and Development Planning Goals for County’s General Plan
Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. (District 6), during session on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, presented CR-081-2023, legislation establishing a Plan Prince George's 2035 Implementation and Infrastructure Task Force to guide the implementation of the land use/development recommendations outlined in Plan Prince George’s 2035.
Vice Chair Blegay says planning goals for the General Plan have not been met, and the Plan Prince George’s 2035 Implementation and Infrastructure Task Force will help address the lapses before they become a more significant problem.
“The County’s General Plan was adopted to establish a long-term vision for the County, but implementing the recommendations has presented some challenges. Establishment of the Task Force will ensure that we meet our predetermined development goals, especially near designated regional transit areas. According to a recent report from the Prince Georges County Planning Department, over 50% of the new development, especially townhomes, are outside the designated areas for Plan 2035.”
The current County General Plan, Plan Prince George's 2035, approved by the County Council in May 2014, set forth specific targets for development near transit and at designated regional transit areas. Vice Chair Blegay has introduced CR-081-2023 in response to several significant barriers hindering the realization of both short and long-term benchmarks for implementing the General Plan vision that have been brought to the Council’s attention.
Plan Prince George’s 2035 includes comprehensive recommendations for guiding future development within Prince George's County. The plan contains recommended goals, policies, and strategies for land use; economic prosperity; transportation and mobility; natural environment; housing and neighborhoods; community heritage, culture and design; health communities; and public facilities.
The Task Force will include the following stakeholders:
- Two County Council Members
- Two staff members from the Planning Department
- Four community members
- One representative from the Chamber of Commerce
- One representative from the Department of Environment
- One representative from a smart growth organization
CR-081-2023 has been referred to the Council’s Planning Housing and Economic Development Committee (PHED) for consideration.
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