THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
M-NCPPC Prince George’s County Planning Department Wins Two 2024 Maryland Planning Awards
Planning Department Recognized for Neighborhood Planning Academy
and Woodland and Wildlife Conservation Ordinance Amendment
LARGO, MD – The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) won two prestigious Maryland Planning Awards from the American Planning Association Maryland Chapter (APA MD) and the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) for outstanding work on projects and programs. With more than 55 nominations from across the State of Maryland in multiple award categories, the award review committee comprised of planning professionals selected the Prince George’s County Neighborhood Planning Academy for the Community Engagement/ Education Award and the Woodland and Wildlife Conservation Ordinance Amendment for the Zoning/Regulation/Process Reform Award. The awards were presented at the 2024 APA MD & MPCA Conference on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Ellicott City, Maryland.
“This recognition is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to engage with residents and stakeholders throughout the planning process,” said Lakisha Hull, Director of the Prince George’s County Planning Department. “Through collaboration, we have produced innovative programming and policy that enhance the environment and diverse and dynamic communities throughout Prince George’s County and the region.”
About the Neighborhood Planning Academy
The Prince George’s County Neighborhood Planning Academy addresses citizen complaints that the government process for zoning and development approvals is complicated for laypeople to understand specifically their place to participate. The Academy provides an opportunity for county citizens to learn how to engage in planning and development review process by demystifying the county’s planning process, removing barriers to meaningful engagement and empowering students to become stakeholders in the future of their communities. The seven-week Academy – with six virtual sessions led by staff experts on the basics of understanding the county’s planning – culminates in an in-person session with capstone project presentations and a graduation celebration. The capstone project enables each student to express their personal or neighborhood concern and their solution based on the tools they learned through the Academy.
About the Woodland and Wildlife Conservation Ordinance Amendment
Facing the challenges to achieve no net loss of forest while experiencing the urban development pressure of being contiguous to the Nation’s Capital and within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, M-NCPPC Planning Department updated the County’s Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance to both reflect Plan Prince George’s 2035 General Plan and the legislative mandated revisions of the Maryland Forest Conservation Act. The Planning Department, in collaboration with interested stakeholders and legal counterparts, developed cutting edge techniques to meet the general plan’s goal of encouraging development in the transit-oriented development centers, preserving the rural areas, enhancing urban tree canopy in underserved areas, and conserving forest in stream focused priority areas.
About the Prince George’s County Planning Department
The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is responsible for preserving, protecting, and managing the county’s resources through high-quality planning services and growth management guidance. Our mission is to promote economic vitality, environmental sustainability, design excellence, and quality development that promotes healthy lifestyles in Prince George’s County. Visit our website, www.pgplanning.org, to learn how you can become engaged in shaping the future of your community.
Assistance
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission encourages the participation of persons with disabilities in all its programs and services. Register at least a minimum of two weeks in advance of the program start date to request and receive a disability accommodation. Call the Public Affairs Office at 301-952-3038, email PublicAffairs@ppd.mncppc.org, or complete the online form.
Contact:
Calista Black
Chief Communications Officer
calista.black@mncppc.org | 301-952-3038
Patricia Villone
Public Affairs & Marketing Specialist III
patricia.villone@mncppc.org | 301-952-4112
