The Planning Department released an initial draft sector plan and proposed SMA for public review on July 22, 2022. On October 11, 2022, the County Council and Planning Board held a joint public hearing to gather testimony on both documents. Since that date, the Planning Department revised the draft sector plan and proposed SMA, incorporating feedback from the public hearing and aligning it more closely with the County’s adopted policies, subsequently releasing a second draft sector plan and proposed SMA in May 2024. A second joint public hearing was held on the new draft on October 1, 2024.
However, this draft was remanded by the Planning Board on January 9, 2025, to reconsider the rezoning of Queens Chapel Manor and other neighborhoods for Missing Middle housing, analyze the impacts of the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB 538) signed into law on April 25, 2024, and address changes introduced by the adoption of CB-15-2024 on July 16, 2024, to ensure alignment with new housing and zoning policies.
