About HoCo By Design

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What is HoCo By Design?

HoCo By Design is Howard County's next General Plan update, providing a long-term vision for the next 20 years in the County.

What does a General Plan do?

A General Plan is a document that establishes a clear, long-range policy on how and where the County will develop and grow as it adjusts to evolving economic, environmental, and social conditions over the next 20 years.

The plan informs many of Howard County’s subsequent decisions on land use, transportation, open space, agriculture, community facilities, community character, historic preservation, housing, economic development, and quality of life.

The General Plan is required by state law and has been updated once every 10 years since 1960 to reflect the values and address the needs of the County's changing population.

What areas are affected by the policies of a General Plan?

How and where we grow: Howard County continues to experience population growth and by 2040, is projected to have over 371,000 residents. Meanwhile, the County’s supply of undeveloped sites, which are potential locations for new homes and businesses, has dwindled to an estimated 2% of all land in the county. This means that redevelopment may be the primary location for growth in the future. Redevelopment can involve the demolition of existing buildings to make way for new, or the addition of new buildings on lots that already have structures or the re-use of a site like a parking lot.

Land preservation and resource conservation: General Plans look not only at how and where to grow, but also at how we protect and preserve land and natural resources. Currently, an estimated 39% of Howard County is permanently preserved as park land, agricultural land or other permanently preserved open space. Policies for the preservation and conservation of parks, open space, environmental resources, and agricultural land can all be described in the general plan (though plans for these resources are detailed further in the Department of Recreation and Parks’ Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan).


Needs for public facilities and infrastructure: The general plan looks at the impact of population on job growth on infrastructure and neighborhood needs, such as: recreation and community centers, schools, housing, improved transportation systems, parks, etc. While the general plan sets high-level policies for facilities, capital planning is carried out by agencies responsible for implementation.


Who is involved in the project?

HoCo By Design was led by the County's Department of Planning and Zoning and a consultant team. Plan development also relies on feedback and guidance from several groups:

Community Members

The planning process invited participation often from you and your neighbors in the County, including residents, business owners, and employees.


Advisory Committees & Groups

The appointed Planning Advisory Committee served as a sounding board to ensure HoCo By Design is reflective of the community's needs and desires. Strategic Advisory Groups provided subject matter expertise on important issues.

County Officials

The County Council adopted a final version of the General Plan, based on the input of the community, advisory groups, and the project team.


The "HoCo By Design" planning process had a robust public engagement component so that the best path forward for Howard County is locally driven. The name "By Design" emphasizes how the plan will be crafted and shaped with great intentionality. The project's slogan, "Every Voice. One Vision." reflects our desire to hear from every voice in the County as we work together to write the next chapter of our community.

How was the General Plan process developed?

The Howard County Code requires the Planning Board to prepare general guidelines for preparing or revising the County’s General Plan. The General Guidelines for the HoCo By Design General Plan were recommended by the Howard County Planning Board in May 2020 and approved by the County Council in July 2020. As noted in the General Guidelines, HoCo By Design will build upon the evaluation conducted in the 2018 Development Regulations Assessment.

What influences the growth outlined in a General Plan?

Opportunities for growth, preservation and change outlined in a General Plan are influenced and driven by a multitude of factors. Learn more about these factors here.

What is HoCo By Design?

HoCo By Design is Howard County's next General Plan update, providing a long-term vision for the next 20 years in the County.

What does a General Plan do?

A General Plan is a document that establishes a clear, long-range policy on how and where the County will develop and grow as it adjusts to evolving economic, environmental, and social conditions over the next 20 years.

The plan informs many of Howard County’s subsequent decisions on land use, transportation, open space, agriculture, community facilities, community character, historic preservation, housing, economic development, and quality of life.

The General Plan is required by state law and has been updated once every 10 years since 1960 to reflect the values and address the needs of the County's changing population.

What areas are affected by the policies of a General Plan?

How and where we grow: Howard County continues to experience population growth and by 2040, is projected to have over 371,000 residents. Meanwhile, the County’s supply of undeveloped sites, which are potential locations for new homes and businesses, has dwindled to an estimated 2% of all land in the county. This means that redevelopment may be the primary location for growth in the future. Redevelopment can involve the demolition of existing buildings to make way for new, or the addition of new buildings on lots that already have structures or the re-use of a site like a parking lot.

Land preservation and resource conservation: General Plans look not only at how and where to grow, but also at how we protect and preserve land and natural resources. Currently, an estimated 39% of Howard County is permanently preserved as park land, agricultural land or other permanently preserved open space. Policies for the preservation and conservation of parks, open space, environmental resources, and agricultural land can all be described in the general plan (though plans for these resources are detailed further in the Department of Recreation and Parks’ Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan).


Needs for public facilities and infrastructure: The general plan looks at the impact of population on job growth on infrastructure and neighborhood needs, such as: recreation and community centers, schools, housing, improved transportation systems, parks, etc. While the general plan sets high-level policies for facilities, capital planning is carried out by agencies responsible for implementation.


Who is involved in the project?

HoCo By Design was led by the County's Department of Planning and Zoning and a consultant team. Plan development also relies on feedback and guidance from several groups:

Community Members

The planning process invited participation often from you and your neighbors in the County, including residents, business owners, and employees.


Advisory Committees & Groups

The appointed Planning Advisory Committee served as a sounding board to ensure HoCo By Design is reflective of the community's needs and desires. Strategic Advisory Groups provided subject matter expertise on important issues.

County Officials

The County Council adopted a final version of the General Plan, based on the input of the community, advisory groups, and the project team.


The "HoCo By Design" planning process had a robust public engagement component so that the best path forward for Howard County is locally driven. The name "By Design" emphasizes how the plan will be crafted and shaped with great intentionality. The project's slogan, "Every Voice. One Vision." reflects our desire to hear from every voice in the County as we work together to write the next chapter of our community.

How was the General Plan process developed?

The Howard County Code requires the Planning Board to prepare general guidelines for preparing or revising the County’s General Plan. The General Guidelines for the HoCo By Design General Plan were recommended by the Howard County Planning Board in May 2020 and approved by the County Council in July 2020. As noted in the General Guidelines, HoCo By Design will build upon the evaluation conducted in the 2018 Development Regulations Assessment.

What influences the growth outlined in a General Plan?

Opportunities for growth, preservation and change outlined in a General Plan are influenced and driven by a multitude of factors. Learn more about these factors here.

Page last updated: 19 Oct 2023, 01:41 PM