Press Releases - County Council

Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for Montgomery County Planning Board

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 30, 2026

Deadline for applying is Monday, April 27, 2026, at 5 p.m.

The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Montgomery County Planning Board. The term of Commissioner James Hedrick (Democrat) is expiring on June 14, 2026. Applicants must live in Montgomery County and be registered to vote in the County as a member of any political party or unaffiliated with a political party. Voter registration will be verified by the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Annual compensation for Board members is currently $30,000. Members generally serve four-year terms and are limited to serving two full terms. No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and each member must be a Montgomery County resident and registered voter when appointed.

The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as Commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. 

The Planning Board’s responsibilities include preparation and amendment of the County General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050; preparation and amendment of master plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of or recommendations on text amendments to the County Zoning Code; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans, and development plans; offering or providing advice on the planning implications of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, WSSCWater, and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting, under its mandatory referral authority, on plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies and approving of the work program and the annual operating budgets for Montgomery Planning, Montgomery Parks and the Commission’s bi-county offices. The Planning Director and Parks Director report directly to the Planning Board.

The Planning Board oversees the 37,000-acre park system. It is responsible for submitting the Parks Department’s proposed operating budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to the Council. The Board handles land acquisition and disposition, major development contracts for parks, development plans for individual park facilities, park operations policies and park user fees. 

The Planning Board meets all day every Thursday, including many Thursday evenings, and will schedule other meetings as needed. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets on the third Wednesday of every month. On average, a Planning Board member may spend two full days a week at scheduled and informal meetings. Additionally, substantial time is required for preparatory work and other activities related to Planning Board responsibilities. 

Application Process and Deadline

A cover letter expressing interest and resume, listing professional and civic experience (including appointments to any state or local boards or committees), political party affiliation, telephone number, home mailing address, and an email address (no more than four pages) should be emailed to Council President Fani-González, [email protected], or mailed to Council President Fani-González, Montgomery County Council, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, 6^th Floor, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the closing date, Councilmembers will review the applications and select candidates for interviews. Those selected for interviews will undergo a preliminary criminal background check.

A list of applicants and redacted resumes is available for public review as part of the application and appointment process. Council staff may request a public resume or redacted biography as part of the information shared with the public. The interviews and appointment process are open to the public and will be televised, streamed live, and available on YouTube, Facebook and the Council website.  

Other Requirements

Each applicant will be required to file a financial disclosure statement of assets, debts, income, and family property interests with the State Ethics Commission and to provide a paper copy to the County Council (see General Provisions Article Section 5-825). The disclosure statement is available to the public only through the State Ethics Commission. In addition, an interview, conducted under oath, regarding potential conflicts of interest will be conducted by the Office of the County Attorney pursuant to Section 15-104 of the Land Use Article of the Maryland Code. The transcript of each appointee’s full interview will be made available to the public, as required by law. An additional criminal background check and fingerprinting will also be required.

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Release ID: 26-124
Media Contact: Helen Xu