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Committee holds measure to add master-plan consistency to site-plan and special-exception review
Summary
CB-42 (Draft 2), proposing master-plan consistency as a decision standard for detailed site plans and special exceptions and formalizing pre-application discussions with council members, was held; sponsors and planning staff will work with stakeholders over recess to refine language and procedural safeguards.
On July 3 the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee held CB-42 (2025), a measure that would amend decision standards for approval of detailed site plans and special exceptions to include master-plan consistency and to formalize discussion of plan consistency at pre-application conferences.
Sponsor materials said the draft is meant to reintroduce elements of prior legislation (CB-3 of 2023) while addressing concerns raised by the zoning bar and developers. Committee leadership said the bill would require applicants to address master-plan consistency at the pre-application conference and sought to formalize meetings between applicants, Park and Planning, and council members so plan-consistency issues are identified earlier in the review process.
Supporters said the change would reduce late-stage surprises after lengthy developer investment; critics and zoning representatives cautioned about potential legal hurdles, ex parte concerns, and the need to avoid creating binding pre-decision determinations. Office of Law and planning staff noted the pre-application conference is not binding and raised the importance of documenting comments rather than creating an early "determination." Several council members urged continuing discussions with the zoning bar and other stakeholders to balance predictability for developers with meaningful council and community input.
The committee voted to hold the bill and directed staff and stakeholders to continue negotiations over the summer and to return with refined language; the motion to hold carried on a roll call vote, 5-0. Committee leadership indicated they expect to revisit the item on Sept. 4 and possibly introduce a revised bill on Sept. 9.
