The City of Rockville has launched the rewrite of its Zoning Ordinance to modernize it and implement the 2040 Comprehensive Plan of the City of Rockville (2040 Plan). Because the city anticipates the rewrite to be a lengthy process, the Mayor and Council have introduced an interim zoning text amendment (Interim ZTA) to allow development in accordance with the 2040 Plan in the near-term. The city’s Planning Commission is reviewing and developing its recommendations to the Mayor and Council on the Interim ZTA, including a March 8 meeting for public comment.
If adopted, the Interim ZTA would allow a property owner or contract purchaser to file a Floating Zone Map Amendment (FZMA) application to rezone the subject property to a floating zone equivalent to the property’s 2040 Plan Land Use Map designation. The floating zones would be based on existing zones in the city’s Zoning Ordinance but with some flexibility for development standards.
The Interim ZTA also includes an expedited approval process for development under the floating zones. Specifically, the city would review and approve the FZMA and a project plan (the first step in Rockville’s development review process) simultaneously. The property owner or contract purchaser could also submit a site plan (the second step in Rockville’s development review process) for simultaneous review with the FZMA and project plan, and the site plan would be approved shortly after the FZMA and project plan.
In exchange for the flexible development standards and the expedited review process, the Interim ZTA would require the development to provide public benefits, beyond what the city requires, such as additional moderately priced dwelling units, public open space, streetscape improvements, wayfinding and/or environmental building efficiency standards.
After the Planning Commission receives public comment at the March 8 meeting, it will provide its recommendations to the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council will then hold a public hearing and work sessions to determine whether it will adopt the Interim ZTA.
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