Commission approves $25,000 countywide zoning survey to guide 2027 comprehensive plan work

Montgomery County approved a $25,000 contract to launch a countywide survey tied to planned updates to the comprehensive plan and zoning regulations.

Staff told commissioners the outreach would be mailed to about 3,000 residents with an expectation of at least 400 responses; the funding will come from a non‑budgeted risk-management fund to allow the survey to proceed without delaying the project timetable. The county expects the comp-plan and zoning regulations to be ready in September 2027 if the survey and subsequent public process proceed as planned.

A commissioner moved and seconded the measure and the board voted to approve the expenditure. Some public commenters later questioned spending on outside consultants even while acknowledging the need for technical assistance; one resident suggested the county consider placing advisory questions on a ballot in the future but staff said state rules limit advisory-question use for topics such as data centers.