HoCo By Design Draft Release

Following the release of the HoCo By Design public draft and the input submitted during the public comment window (December 2022-January 2023), the HoCo By Design team refined the draft plan to prepare an updated version for Howard County's Planning Board.

On March 9, the Planning Board met to review HoCo By Design and unanimously endorsed the Plan. You can read their recommendation here.

The County Council has begun holding work sessions to review the plan. For more information, click here.

The final draft of HoCo By Design has now been submitted to the Council. Non-substantive edits have been made to the text and graphics in the Council draft to ensure accurate information and improve readability of the plan.

To get an overview of the Plan chapters, watch the HoCo By Design presentation videos.

HoCo By Design Chapters

Click on the chapter image to download the chapter.

HoCo By Design Provides a Long-Term Vision for our Future:

Sets priorities and informs many of the County's future decisions for land use, transportation, agriculture, facilities, housing, and economic development

Incorporates an equity lens to facilitate a more equitable future for all

Advances policies that are more predictable, achievable, and sustainable

HoCo By Design Balances Growth and Conservation:

Outlines intended land use for areas throughout the County, depicting each area’s unique purpose, design, and feel

Focuses new growth into redevelopment areas, addressing housing and commercial demand while reducing potential impacts on infrastructure and the environment

Identifies activity centers, which have a mix of employment, residential, and commercial activity, as the greatest opportunity for transformation

Paces growth to allow for development of essential infrastructure, such as schools, roads, drinking water, and sewer

HoCo By Design Protects Our Natural Environment:

Deepens our commitment to environmental stewardship

Expands our forest cover, forested stream buffers, and tree canopy

Protects sensitive environmental resources such as rivers, wetlands, and groundwater

Provides measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation

HoCo By Design Expands Transportation Options:

Establishes a safe, equitable, and fiscally sustainable transportation system for all users

Enhances public transit service to facilitate better connections within Howard County and around the region

Expands safe and convenient walking, cycling, and transit options that reduce reliance on automobile trips and mitigate climate impact

HoCo By Design Strengthens Economic Opportunities:

Supports jobs and workforce housing opportunities, particularly in future mixed-use, walkable activity centers

Seeks to attract and maintain a diverse employment base by investing in transportation, education, and other community resources

Supports local businesses so they can continue to be strong and prosperous in the future

HoCo By Design Promotes Diverse Housing Choices:

Supports diverse housing choices, such as missing middle housing and Accessory Dwelling Units, that are affordable and accessible for all

Creates opportunities for age-friendly and multi-generational communities

Supports housing opportunities for all income levels and age ranges

Preserves existing affordable housing stock and enhances community amenities in older neighborhoods

HoCo By Design Prioritizes Community Character:

Preserves existing neighborhood character and "vibe," recognizing variations in the County's unique areas

Creates more accessible, walkable, and connected public outdoors spaces and amenities

Seeks to better document our historic resources and preservation, especially those that tell the story of our diverse history

Defines the unique and varied character throughout the County and identifies specific elements to preserve or transform

HoCo By Design Emphasizes Coordinated School Planning:

Provides an overview of the processes and considerations associated with planning for schools in Howard County

Encourages collaborative and innovative approaches to locating, funding, and building facilities that meet the needs of our student population

HoCo By Design Promotes Strong Infrastructure:

Advocates for a strategic, comprehensive long-term approach to capital improvement planning

Calls for a diverse and inclusive outreach process when identifying capital needs and equity measures when prioritizing capital projects

HoCo By Design Paces Growth:

Sets a slower pace for future growth compared to the last 20 years, as most of the County has either been conserved or developed

Recommends a comprehensive reassessment of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) growth management system to account for current and anticipated development patterns

HoCo By Design Tracks Progress:

Calls for annual reporting of growth and conservation metrics, and five-year monitoring of the implementation process

Supports presentation of annual and five-year monitoring reports in accessible and user-friendly format to increase transparency

This document serves as a long-range plan for the Route 1 Corridor:

Preserves Washington Boulevard as an industrial employment corridor and aims to grow the industrial and manufacturing base through redevelopment and reinvestment

Promotes safe and efficient travel in the Corridor with focused infrastructure investments

Targets redevelopment and placemaking within a variety of mixed-use, walkable districts while preserving its historic communities and protecting the environmental health of the Corridor