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News Release

MEDIA CONTACT:
Marylou Berg, Communication Manager, 240-314-8105
    

Rockville Updates Development Review Process
New Procedures Effective Friday, July 1

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 29, 2011 - In an effort to make the City's development review process more transparent and accessible to citizens, several changes to the process will go into effect Friday, July 1. The updates are the result of recommendations made to the Mayor and Council by the City’s Communications Task Force.

The changes are reflected in the Development Review Procedures Manual, a guide to the development review applications and review procedures required by the City's Zoning Ordinance. The manual gives citizens, developers, applicants, staff and other interested parties a comprehensive overview of what is involved in processing development applications and helps to ensure accurate, complete and timely application review.

The process changes are:

• Required Pre-Application Area meetings will be conducted prior to the Pre-Application Meeting with the City's Development Review Committee (DRC);
• City staff will attend all Post Application Area Meetings to respond to process questions;
• Minutes will be required for all area meetings and must be taken by an objective outside sources at the applicant's expense;
• Additional information is required with mailed public notification; and
• The notice sent at the time of the project filing must include the date of the Development Review Committee meeting.

For more information about the development review process changes or the manual contact Bobby Ray in the Community Planning and Development Services Department at bray@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8200 or visit www.rockvillemd.gov/government/cpds/development-review.html.

Rockville residents interested in planning initiatives and development review are invited to apply for a position on the City's new Citizens Implementation Committee. The committee will identify ways to engage citizens in comprehensive planning initiatives and will evaluate the need for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the development review process. Interested residents should contact Orlando Heyliger, neighborhood resources coordinator, at oheyliger@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8343.