Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026
Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026
The Prince George's County Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee met on September 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM to consider six legislative items. The committee held two bills, passed two bills with amendments, passed one resolution, and adjourned. Detailed summaries of each agenda item are below.
CB-065-2026: Senior Co-Housing Expansion Program
- Action: Held to the next meeting to allow the sponsor to speak. Motion carried 3-0.
Weeds and Conservation Landscaping (CB-064-2026)
- Public Comments & Testimony: Mary Abe (Deputy Associate Director, Department of the Environment) expressed strong support, stating the bill distinguishes intentional conservation landscaping from nuisance weeds and aligns with environmental sustainability initiatives. Lori Parris (DPIE) and Crystal Tibbs (OHS) expressed concerns about enforcement, noting their inspectors lack expertise in conservation landscaping and recommending enforcement be transferred to the Department of the Environment. DOE responded that they do not have an enforcement mission but could support. The committee initially held the bill to allow the county executive to resolve agency responsibilities, but later reconsidered.
- Discussion Items: Committee Chair Oriadha noted the sponsor, Councilmember Dernoga, wanted to move forward. Four technical amendments from Dernoga were adopted to add voluntary identification, registration, certification, and signage. Discussion centered on the enforcement agency. The committee voted to place enforcement with the Office of Homeland Security and to work with the administration before full council introduction to finalize the agency.
- Key Outcomes: Motion to hold reconsidered; amendments adopted; bill passed favorably as amended (3-0). Enforcement agency to be finalized by the county executive before introduction.
Quiet and Clean Landscaping Equipment (CB-075-2026)
- Public Comments & Testimony: Tamil Perry (Legislative Analyst, DPW&T) supported the bill's intent but highlighted major operational, fiscal, procurement, and implementation challenges. DPW&T recommended a comprehensive study, extended timeline, continued use of existing gas equipment through useful life, expanded exemptions for public safety, contingency on funding, and clarification for contracts. They submitted proposed amendments.
- Discussion Items: Staff presented seven amendments from Councilmember Dernoga, including a sound level change to 75 dBA, adjusted compliance dates, a $100,000 annual appropriation for a transition fund, and removal of M-NCPPC reference. The committee did not vote on amendments.
- Key Outcomes: Motion to hold carried 3-0. Amendments to be reviewed before the next meeting.
Rental Licenses (CB-023-2026)
- Public Comments & Testimony: Hugo Cantu (Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington) stated members can comply with draft 2 requirements.
- Discussion Items: Administration submitted comments in support. Councilmember Adam Stafford noted the importance of protecting tenants, especially undocumented individuals, and suggested signage in both English and Spanish for future consideration.
- Key Outcomes: Motion to pass draft 2 carried 3-0. Bill passed favorably as drafted.
CR-087-2026: M-NCPPC Budget Ordinance Clarification
- Action: Motion passed 3-0 without discussion.
Accessory Dwelling Units (CB-074-2026)
- Public Comments & Testimony: Cheryl Court (Coalition for Smarter Growth) strongly supported the bill, urging no onerous restrictions such as owner occupancy requirements. Ileana Schinder (architect) supported, recommending ADUs be treated like any other housing without extra limits. Stephanie Ireland (Prince George's County Association of Realtors) supported, citing Maryland's need for 590,000 new housing units and increased housing production. Miriam Bader (City of College Park) expressed concerns about over-occupancy near the university and requested an occupancy limit of two persons per ADU via special exception, and consultation with the fire marshal on setbacks. The sponsor, Councilmember Oriadha, thanked the task force and staff.
- Discussion Items: Staff overview noted planning board support with amendments and multiple municipal letters of support. Councilmember Olson introduced several amendment packages: (1) County staff group amendments (10 technical amendments) – adopted; (2) Councilmember Dernoga's amendments – extended Chesapeake Bay Critical Area requirements to the LDO zone and limited lot coverage increase to 900 sq ft in the CBCAO zone – adopted; (3) Councilmember Olson's amendments – occupancy limit of four persons per ADU (with reduction if principal dwelling has renters), requirement for unpermitted ADUs to begin compliance within 90 days, and a cleanup correction of a subsection letter – all adopted. Olson noted that a special exception approach from College Park was not included due to legal concerns with state law.
- Key Outcomes: Bill passed favorably as amended (3-0). All amendments adopted. A clean version to be prepared for full council introduction.
Adjournment
Motion carried.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everyone. We are convening as the Planning Housing and Economic Development Committee. Can I please have a roll call? Vice Chair Oyana. Here. Councilmember Adam Stafford. Present. Councilmember Olsen. Here. Three members present every little call. Thank you. We have a few pieces of legislation today. There'll be two that we're gonna hold to the next meeting. I'll read them to indicate them since their sponsors are not here. Um and then the others we will be discussing today. The first one is CB 65 2026, an act concerning senior co-housing expansion program. We'll be holding that to the next committee meeting to allow the sponsor to be able to speak on it. Oh, actually, it wasn't all right. Can I have a motion to hold to the next meeting? So moved. Properly move myself. I'm sorry, second move by the Vice Chair Olsen. Seconded by myself, kind of roll call. Vice Chair Oyaga. Aye. Councilmember Adam Stafford. Aye. Councilmember Olsen. Aye. Motion carries three zero. Thank you. I'm gonna move around in the agenda. Um so I know we see CB 74 as next, but it will be moving to the last uh item on our agenda. Next, we have C B 64 and Act concerning weeds and conservation landscaping for the purpose of amending the housing code of Prince George's County regarding the definition of weeds and conservation landscaping, amending the property standards maintenance co provisions regarding the definition of weeds and conservation landscaping, and to amend the anti-litter and weed ordinance regarding the definition of weeds conservation landscaping, providing for certain abandoned vehicles and certain definitions and generally relating or excuse me, regarding weeds and conservation landscaping, sponsored by Councilmember Genoga. I'll pass it to the staff for an overview. Good morning, uh Madam Chair and members of the PAGD committee. As Madam Chair mentioned, this bill amends the exterior properties, property standards, anti-litter and weed ordinance regulations of the housing code to define conservation landscaping and update the definition for weeds. The bill also updates uh language on uh vacant vehicles to include watercraft and semi-trailers. The bill in the agenda summary on pages 77 through 86. There are amendments uh to this bill. There's an amendment sheet that Miss Kathy Cannon and I transmitted to you this morning. Um there were approximately uh 13 letters submitted from the public in support of this bill. Uh if I may, I can turn to Ms. Canning to go over some of those amendments. She and I can turn back and forth together if she prefers as well. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, Ms. Hightower. Um, there are four amendments.
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