Residents are invited to a series of community meetings being held around the County during the month of March to learn more about the new zoning laws designed to help protect and maintain the residential character of neighborhoods. A representative of the County Executive’s Office will give an overview of the new laws and staff from the County’s departments of Permitting Services and Housing and Community Affairs will be on hand to discuss the laws and how changes will affect residents. Police will talk about the changes to on-street parking for commercial and recreational vehicles.

The community meetings will be held according to the following schedule:

• Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. -- Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown

• Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. -- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda

• Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. -- Silver Spring Regional Services Center, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place

• Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. -- Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton

The dates that these new provisions go into effect are as follows:

• April 24, 2011 – the provisions of the new law dealing with home-based businesses, off-street parking and paving front yards. The zoning text amendment does not apply to or include surfaced area existing before October 26, 2010, so long as the surfaced area is not increased. Parking on non-surfaced area or surfaced area of a front yard of less than 160 sq. ft per vehicle must cease after October 24, 2011.

• July 1, 2009 – Bill 28-09, approved by the County Council, prohibits on-street parking of heavy commercial and recreational vehicles in residential areas.

The new laws were proposed by County Executive Ike Leggett two years ago based on recommendations from a Code Enforcement Work Group that he appointed. The Work Group reviewed a number of housing and zoning code issues that were causing adverse impacts and public safety issues in residential neighborhoods. The County Council approved zoning text amendment 09-03 last October. 

For more information about the laws or the community meetings, call 240-777-6507. Visit the County’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov for more information about these new laws.