Communities
The Planning Department helps shape growth and development in the County by working with communities to create neighborhoods where people live, work, and play. Through the process of comprehensive planning, planners work with community members, like residents, workers, property owners, and students, to come together and share their ideas and goals for how their area should grow, change, or be preserved in the future.
Our guiding principles come from the County’s general plan, Plan Prince George’s 2035 (Plan 2035). Planners also use master, sector, and transit district development plans to guide planning in smaller areas of the County.
Regions
For planning purposes, we divide the County into three regions, each made up of three council districts.
Northern
Councilmanic Districts: 1-3
Municipalities:
- Berwyn Heights
- Brentwood
- Cheverly*
- College Park
- Greenbelt*
- Hyattsville*
- Landover Hills*
- Mount Rainier
- New Carrollton
- North Brentwood
- Riversale Park
- University Park
* Municipalities that cross over more than one district.
Central
Councilmanic Districts: 4-6
Municipalities:
- Bladensburg
- Bowie
- Cheverly*
- Colmar Manor
- Cottage City
- Edmonston
- Fairmount Heights
- Glenarden
- Greenbelt*
- Hyattsville*
- Landover Hills*
- Morningside*
* Municipalities that cross over more than one district.
Southern
Councilmanic Districts: 7-9
Municipalities:
- Capitol Heights
- District Heights
- Forest Heights
- Morningside*
- Seat Pleasant
- Upper Marlboro
* Municipalities that cross over more than one district.
NOTE: The City of Laurel has its own planning and zoning authority.
Community Programs
What’s included in a Community Planning Project?
Master & Sector Plans
A master plan provides specific recommendations for a subregion or planning area regarding land use, the environment, historic preservation, housing, commercial and employment areas, economic development, urban design, transportation, and public facilities. Sector plans perform the same function as a master plan but focus on a smaller geography that exhibits special circumstances. For example, a sector plan may cover the area around a Metro station.
Sectional Map Amendments
A sectional map amendment is the comprehensive rezoning of a subregion, planning area, or specific geography within a planning area. It generally occurs concurrently or shortly after the approval of a master or sector plan and is an important component in its initial implementation.
Minor Amendments
A minor amendment is the modification of an approved master or sector plan to correct an inconsistency or error within a plan, or to respond to changing conditions in the Plan Area.
Planning Studies
Planning studies are conducted to provide detailed information on one or more of the components found in a master or sector plan, such as transportation, economic development, etc.
Implementation Projects
Implementation projects relate to recommendations found in a master or sector plan and can cover any of the plan elements.
