Team Joins County Advisory Group to Create Streamlined Permitting Initiatives
In late 2020, members of the Soltesz team joined the Montgomery County Economic Advisory Group’s Speed-to-Market Working Group comprised of members from the county executive staff and representatives from M-NCPPC, DPS and DOT. This public-private working group helped identify areas within the permitting process commonly known for being lengthy, costly and often challenging. The group has developed specific recommendations for the Planning Board to adopt without compromising standards of the permitting process.
Our Soltesz experts were instrumental in advocating for these changes recommended to the Montgomery County Planning Board, and here’s what you may want to know:
Streamlining & Consolidating the Planning and Land-Use Approval Processes
Proposed changes would create a more streamlined review process, and for certain development projects create one concurrent review. Montgomery County requires three major approvals for development projects that occur over two sequential hearings by M-NCPPC. With these proposed recommendations, certain projects that provide Strategic Economic Development or offer public benefits in excess of standard requirements—would require only one concurrent hearing. This consolidated process for Planning and Land-Use permitting could potentially shorten the approval timeframe by as much as one year.
Post-Entitlement Process Integration
Recommendations have been established for Post-Entitlement to adjust the currently linear step-by-step process to adapt a condensed concurrent review. This integration could potentially cut the entitlement review period in half. Montgomery County’s full press release is available here. Get in touch with our expertsOur team members part of the Speed-to-Market Work Group are experts in their fields and knowledgeable resources on local permitting and these recommended changes.
Montgomery County’s full press release is available here.
