Development Review
Plan Review and Collection of Fees - FAQ's
The purpose of the MCDOT review fee is to recover the costs of the principal administration and plan/document review functions performed by the Department during the development approval process.
The Council approved executive regulation which provides background as well as general information regarding the collection of fees can be found through the following link:
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/resources/files/res/20071211_16-405.pdf
Preliminary Plan submissions, Local Area Transportation Review Studies, and revisions to each require a MCDOT fee.
For submissions prior to January 5, 2009, the fee must be paid 30 days prior to January 5, 2009 which ever comes first.
For submissions on or after January 5, 2009, the fee must be paid prior to project submission. The M-NCPPC will require proof of payment for the MCDOT fee as part of their submission package.
Once the applicant submits their plans and supporting information to the M-NCPPC for review, the M-NCPPC distributes the plans to all agencies involved in the review. The 30 day review period begins once MCDOT receives the plans from the M-NCPPC.
Yes, MCDOT has a separate application/fee schedule, which can be found by clicking this link.
a. Although it is not required, we strongly encourage the applicant's engineer to meet with
MCDOT to ensure the completeness of their package for MCDOT review needs. This will
ultimately expedite the review process for the applicant.
b. Complete the MCDOT application and fee schedule; obtain MCDOT confirmation of the
fee amount.
c. Pay the MCDOT review fee by sending it to the MCDOT Development Review Team at
100 Edison Park Drive, 4th floor, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 if paying by check and we
we will make sure it is deposited with our Treasury Office. If paying by credit card or cash,
please make payment at the County's Treasury Office located at 255 Rockville Pike, Lobby
Level, Room 15, Rockville, MD 20850.
d. MCDOT will provide applicants with verification of payment.
e. Once you receive your payment receipt you may proceed with submitting a preliminary plan
and/or LATR study to the M-NCPPC. The M-NCPPC will require a copy of the receipt showing
payment of MCDOT fees. The M-NCPPC application, checklist and fee schedule can be found
through the following links:
M-NCPPC APPLICATION AND CHECKLIST
http://montgomeryplanning.org/development/forms/documents/preliminary_plan_application.pdf
FEE SCHEDULE
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/development/forms/documents/fee_schedule_worksheet.pdf
Montgomery County is split into three review areas: east, central and west. A map of the review areas can be found by clicking here.
Each reviewer would be more than happy to assist applicants in determining if they have come up with the correct fee amount. You may contact the Development Review Team at 240-777-2197 or you may email your reviewer at the above email addresses.
A complete submission package to MCDOT consists of the following items, which are also listed on the
M-NCPPC Preliminary Plan application:
a. Three (3) copies of the preliminary plan.
b. Storm Drain Capacity and Impact Study (Note: this is not the Stormwater Management Concept) in
accordance with MCDOT storm drain criteria and errata.
c. Sight Distance Evaluation Certification on County form.
d. Traffic Study or Traffic Operation Statement (includes LATR/PAMR, circulation, queueing...).
e. Tentative Street Profiles
f. Measures needed to remedy deficiency (concept plan, order of magnitude, cost estimate of potential
solutions).
g. Design waiver package if applicable.
A storm drain study consists of the following items:
a. Watershed name and classification.
b. Verification of 100 year floodplain limits.
c. Pre and post developed drainage divides.
d. Pre and post development flows.
e. The capacity of the existing downstream public storm drain system, pipes, ditches/swales (enclosed
or open system as appropriate).
o Impacts to existing downstream public storm drain system including: inverts, HGL, friction slope,
10 year flow, spread, velocity.
o Impacts to existing ditches/swales including: 10 year flow, water surface elevation and velocity
within the channel.
o Impacts to existing culverts including: pre and post 50 year flows for cross culverts and 100
year flows if within the 100 year floodplain.
When an applicant would like to pursue a waiver or design exception the preliminary plan package should include the following items:
a. Written explanation describing the proposed modification(s).
b. Rationale for the request.
c. Measures that were evaluated to avoid the need for the modification(s) and why they were determined
unacceptable.
d. Anticipated impact on vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
e. Anticipated impact on future County maintenance operations.
f. Plan demonstrating the impact of a standard design on the project. Demonstration should be made through
plan views, cross sections, engineer's cost estimate, etc. as appropriate.
g. Anticipated structure life span (structure replacement time frame).
h. Impact on the project if MCDOT does not approve the request.
i. Perceived benefit to the public and private sectors if modification is permitted.
The following items are considered in a MCDOT plan review:
a. Conformance with the County Code, Master Plan, and development standards, policies and procedures.
b. Need for improvements to existing frontage roads.
c. Proposed site access location(s).
d. Proposed internal public street -- typical section, alignment, and termini.
e. Proposed pedestrian and bicycle circulation system.
f. Need for improvements to the public storm drain system to accommodate runoff from the proposed
development.
g. Adequate public facilities reviews (local area traffic studies and traffic mitigation agreements).
h. Coordination with existing or proposed transportation projects.
The applicant's consultant meets with the M-NCPPC Transportation Planning Team prior to their submission in order to obtain background information and to determine which intersections need to be analyzed. The applicant then has their traffic consultant prepare a study which is submitted to the M-NCPPC Transportation Planning Team. The M-NCPPC Transportation Planning Team checks that the correct intersections were analyzed and that the data is correct. The Transportation Planning Team then sends the traffic study to MCDOT to determine whether the measures proposed within the study are feasible. Once MCDOT has made their determination, a recommendation is given to the M-NCPPC Transportation Planning Team.
The Local Area Transportation Review (LATR) and Policy Area Mobility Review (PAMR) Guidelines can be found through the M-NCPPC website:
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/transportation/latr_guidelines/latr_guidelines.shtm
The approved County Design Standards can be found through the following website
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/index.html
The County Code can be accessed through the following link. Chapters 49 nd 50 apply specifically to development review.
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/countycode.html
The Master Plan list and related documents can be found on the M-NCPPC website through the following link:
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/department
All preliminary plan submissions are subject to the MCDOT review fee. If the project falls on a State road and does not impact a County road, MCDOT still reviews the preliminary plan and makes recommendations to MSHA.
The MCDOT Development Review Team looks forward to working with you on your projects. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 240-777-2197.