2272

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 779

plan of or for the development of any area until a public
hearing is held on the plan or staff study.]

(A) (1) AT THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL
FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY OR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, HEREINAFTER REFERRED
TO IN THIS SECTION AS THE "APPROPRIATE DISTRICT COUNCIL",
THE COMMISSION SHALL INITIATE AND ADOPT A GENERAL PLAN FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PORTION OF THE MARYLAND-WASHINGTON
REGIONAL DISTRICT LOCATED IN EACH COUNTY AND, FROM TIME TO
TIME, SHALL INITIATE AND ADOPT AMENDMENTS THERETO.

(2)    THE GENERAL PLAN AND AMENDMENTS SHALL
CONTAIN THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCH
DEVELOPMENT, TOGETHER WITH SUCH DESCRIPTIVE OR SUPPORTING
MATERIAL AS THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT COUNCIL MAY DIRECT, OR
THE COMMISSION SHALL DETERMINE TO BE NECESSARY AND FEASIBLE.

(3)    THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT COUNCIL PURSUANT
TO THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, MAY DIRECT THE
COMMISSION TO PREPARE THE GENERAL PLAN, OR AMENDMENTS
THERETO, BASED ON STUDIES AND THE CONSIDERATION OF SUCH
ELEMENTS, FACTORS, AND CONDITIONS AS THE FOLLOWING:

(I)    EXISTING AND FORECASTED POPULATION,
INCLUDING POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER APPROPRIATE
CHARACTERISTICS;

(II)   EXISTING AND FORECASTED AMOUNT, TYPE,
INTENSITY, GENERAL LOCATION, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND PUBLIC SECTOR FACILITIES, AND
EMPLOYMENT RELATED THERETO;

(III) EXISTING AND FORECASTED TYPE, AMOUNT,
NEED AND LOCATION OF MAJOR PUBLIC SERVICES, FACILITIES, AND
UTILITIES;

(IV)   STAGING OR SCHEDULING OF DEVELOPMENT
AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT
OF SAME;

(V)    EXISTING AND FORECASTED
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, FACILITIES, ROUTES, AND SYSTEMS;

(VI)   EXISTING AND FORECASTED NEEDS AND
DEMAND FOR HOUSING, AND THE AMOUNT, TYPE, QUALITY, AND
GENERAL LOCATION OF HOUSING;

(VII)  EXISTING LAND USES, FORECASTS OF LAND
ABSORPTION RATES OR MARKETS, AND ANALYSES OF THE AMOUNT,
GENERAL LOCATION, AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF LAND USE;

(VIII)       PHYSICAL RESOURCES AND
CONDITIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TOPOGRAPHY, SOILS,
GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS, HYDROLOGY AND WATERWAYS,
WETLANDS AND SHORELINES, WATER AND AIR QUALITY, CLIMATE,
NOISE, OPEN SPACES, SCENIC AREAS, VEGETATION, FORESTS,