Committee advances conservation-landscaping bill after agency enforcement questions

The Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee voted to advance County Bill 64 20 26, which revises property standards and the anti‑litter/weed ordinance to recognize and protect conservation landscaping.

Mary Abe, deputy associate director in Flood Management and Environmental Resiliency, told the committee: "This legislation...represents a vital and progressive update to the housing code of Prince George's County," saying the bill distinguishes "unmanaged nuisance growth from intentional and sustainable conservation landscaping practices." She said the change aligns with county sustainability and watershed‑health goals and would reduce enforcement ambiguity.

Officials from the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement and the Office of Homeland Security raised concerns about operational capacity to enforce plant‑type standards. Crystal Tibbs of OHS said, "Our inspectors are not subject matter experts as it relates to the environment and preservation and conservation landscape areas," and recommended that the Department of Environment or cross‑training be used for specialized determinations.

Committee members adopted multiple technical and substantive amendments and asked the county executive's administration to return within a week with a recommendation on where enforcement should sit. The committee then reconsidered the measure, moved amendments on the record and ultimately moved CB 64 forward as amended. The committee recorded unanimous approval among the three members present on each roll call related to the item.

Next steps: staff will circulate a clean copy of the bill with the adopted amendments and the administration is expected to provide a recommendation on enforcement assignment for committee review.