Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Encyclopedia
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a bi-county agency that administers park
s and planning
in Montgomery
and Prince George's
Counties in Maryland
.
. Since 1970, the Commission also has operated the Prince George's County recreation
program, funded by a separate countywide recreation tax. In addition, the Commission provides services and educational programs relating to conservation and nature, local history, and the arts, and offers recreation classes.
s to fund park acquisition and development. All other expenses, including debt service
, are paid from a park tax levied within the District.
Prince George's Stadium
in Bowie
is built on park property.
, the Commission prepares and administers a General Plan
for the physical development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District. All of Prince George's County (except Laurel
) and all of Montgomery County (except Rockville
, Gaithersburg
, and several small municipalities) are included in the district. For the portion of the District within their county, each planning board makes zoning
recommendations to its county council. To enact zoning ordinances
and change the zoning map, the planning boards have exclusive responsibility for subdivision
approval, location and grades of streets, location of public buildings and utilities
, and street naming and house numbering. Administration and operating expenses of the Commission are financed by property tax
es levied by the two counties.
, which patrols the parks in both counties. The M-NCPPC Park Police is divided into the Montgomery County Division and the Prince George's County Division.
The Commission appoints the Executive Director (Patricia Barney), General Counsel (Adrian Gardner), and Secreatary-Treasurer (Joe Zimmerman). In Prince George's County, the Parks and Recreation Director and Planning Director are appointed by the County Planning Board. In Montgomery County, the Planning Board appoints a Director of Parks (Mary Bradford) and a Planning Director (Rollin Stanley).
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s and planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
in Montgomery
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
and Prince George's
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
Counties in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
History
The Commission was formed in 1927 by the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
. Since 1970, the Commission also has operated the Prince George's County recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
program, funded by a separate countywide recreation tax. In addition, the Commission provides services and educational programs relating to conservation and nature, local history, and the arts, and offers recreation classes.
Organization and Functions
The Commission is divided into four departments: Montgomery Department of Parks, Montgomery Planning Department, Prince George's Department of Parks & Recreation, and Prince George's Planning Department. While these counties and departments are all within One Commission, day-to-day operations, for the most part, are separate. Interaction among general staff across counties and departments is rare.Parks
The Commission manages over 52000 acres (210.4 km²) of parks in the two counties. Within the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District, the Commission is empowered to acquire, develop, maintain, and operate parks systems. In all areas except Laurel, the Commission may spend public funds to acquire park land. Subject to county government approval, it also may sell general obligation bondGeneral obligation bond
A general obligation bond is a common type of municipal bond in the United States that is secured by a state or local government's pledge to use legally available resources, including tax revenues, to repay bond holders....
s to fund park acquisition and development. All other expenses, including debt service
Government debt
Government debt is money owed by a central government. In the US, "government debt" may also refer to the debt of a municipal or local government...
, are paid from a park tax levied within the District.
Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium is a multipurpose sports venue located in Bowie, Maryland primarily used for baseball. It is home of the Baltimore Orioles' AA affiliate in the Eastern League, the Bowie Baysox...
in Bowie
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
is built on park property.
Planning
Taking into account all factors of urban, suburban, rural and regional planningRegional planning
Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town. The related field of urban planning deals with the specific issues of city planning...
, the Commission prepares and administers a General Plan
General plan
A general plan is the policy of acceptable land uses in each jurisdiction. Each city and county adopts and updates their General Plan to guide the growth and land development of their community, for both the current period and the long term...
for the physical development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District. All of Prince George's County (except Laurel
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
) and all of Montgomery County (except Rockville
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
, Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
, and several small municipalities) are included in the district. For the portion of the District within their county, each planning board makes zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
recommendations to its county council. To enact zoning ordinances
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
and change the zoning map, the planning boards have exclusive responsibility for subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
approval, location and grades of streets, location of public buildings and utilities
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
, and street naming and house numbering. Administration and operating expenses of the Commission are financed by property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es levied by the two counties.
Park Police
The Commission supervises the Maryland-National Capital Park PoliceMaryland-National Capital Park Police
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police is the law enforcement branch of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and has two divisions, one in Prince George's County and one in Montgomery County in Maryland...
, which patrols the parks in both counties. The M-NCPPC Park Police is divided into the Montgomery County Division and the Prince George's County Division.
Governance
The Commission's ten members include five residents of Montgomery County and five of Prince George's who serve four-year terms. The five members from each county make up the county planning board. In Montgomery County, members are appointed by the County Council and confirmed by the County Executive. In Prince George's County, the County Executive appoints all five members subject to County Council confirmation. Of the members from each county, no more than three may be of the same political party. The appointing authority names the planning board chair. The Commission chair alternates each year between the two planning board chairs (Royce Hanson, Sam Parker). The alternate becomes vice-chair.The Commission appoints the Executive Director (Patricia Barney), General Counsel (Adrian Gardner), and Secreatary-Treasurer (Joe Zimmerman). In Prince George's County, the Parks and Recreation Director and Planning Director are appointed by the County Planning Board. In Montgomery County, the Planning Board appoints a Director of Parks (Mary Bradford) and a Planning Director (Rollin Stanley).