- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Planning & Community Development
- Bowie Master Plan Update
Bowie Master Plan Update
The Preliminary Master Plan for Bowie-Mitchellville and Vicinity is now available on the M-NCPPC project website. The Master Plan provides a vision for the City of Bowie and portions of the Mitchellville and Collington areas and describes how the plan area will grow and evolve over the next 25 years. It identifies strategies to achieve economic success for this area of Prince George’s County by recommending an increased mix of land uses at the Bowie Local Town Center, expanding economic development opportunities at the Free State Shopping Center/Bowie Marketplace area along MD 450 (Annapolis Road) and at the Collington Local Employment Area, revitalizing Old Town Bowie, and strategically investing along US 301/MD 3 (Robert Crain Highway), MD 450 (Annapolis Road), and MD 197 (Collington/Laurel Bowie Road).
This is a comprehensive master plan that contains recommendations for nine elements of Land Use and Comprehensive Zoning, Economic Prosperity, Transportation and Mobility, Natural Environment, Housing and Neighborhoods, Community Heritage, Culture, and Design, Healthy Communities, and Public Facilities specific to Bowie-Mitchellville and Vicinity. A virtual Joint Public Hearing of the Prince George’s County Planning Board and District Council will be held on Monday, October 4, 2021, at 5 p.m. using the link provided at https://pgccouncil.us/LIVE.
The City’s review process included a public hearing before the Bowie Advisory Planning Board on September 14 (view the meeting video here or the staff report here) and at the City Council meeting on Monday, September 20, 2021. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 301-809-3045.
View the City's position letter submitted for October 4, 2021 hearing.
City staff has reviewed the Preliminary Master Plan for conformance to current City policy. The first review document compares development policy recommendations to the City's approved Development Review Guidelines. The second is a Plan Element review document, which lists the 340 proposed strategies contained in the Plan and indicates where conflicts with City policy exist or where a City Council position is needed. The blank columns on the right indicate the City agrees or has no objection to the proposed strategy. Items for future City Council discussion include but are not limited to:
- Expanded boundaries of the Bowie Local Town Center
- Zug Road industrial zoning change to Commercial General Office
- Multi-family residential at Free State shopping center, Bowie Marketplace, Bowie Plaza and Pointer Ridge Plaza
- Macy’s adaptive reuse for entertainment venue
- Use of urban street design standards and specific pedestrian improvements on City streets
- Minimum acceptable traffic Level of Service in Bowie Local Town Center (Plan endorses a lower LOS “E”, rather than “D”)
- A new, one-stop transit service from Bowie to Washington, DC
- The necessity of establishing a Parking District in the Bowie Local Town Center and in Old Town Bowie
- New road designations in the Bowie Local Town Center and Old Town Bowie
- Traffic roundabout at MD 450/Millstream Drive
- Future interchange at US 301 and Mitchellville Road/Queen Anne Bridge Road
- Downgrading of MD Rt 3 freeway designation to expressway
- City agreement to sponsor infill housing on public property in Old Town Bowie
- Specific recommendations for public art in the City
- Creation of a Business Improvement District/Main Street organization for Old Town Bowie
- Arts and Entertainment District in Old Town Bowie
- Active recreation uses on City parcels in Bowie Gateway Center
- Public recreational facility on former Ice Arena relocation site on Church Road
- Developing Archer Tract Park (between Free State and Hilltop) with trails
- Proposed neighborhood park at northern end of Free State Mall, with trail connection to Meadowbrook subdivision
Current Master Plan
Approved Master Plan for Bowie and Vicinity and Sectional Map Amendment for Planning Areas 71A, 71B, 74A, and 74B (February 2006)
Abstract: This document contains text and maps of the Approved Master Plan for Bowie and Vicinity and the Sectional Map Amendment for Planning Areas 71A, 71B, 74A, and 74B. This plan amends the 1991 Approved Master Plan and Adopted Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) for Bowie-Collington-Mitchellville and Vicinity, Planning Areas 71A, 71B, 74A, and 74B. It also amends the 2002 Prince George’s County Approved General Plan and other functional master plans. This plan was developed primarily during a community-wide six-day planning charrette after consultation with citizen focus groups. The document provides visions, goals, background, policies and strategies for numerous planning elements. The Development Pattern element encourages the revitalization of Old Town Bowie and redevelopment of Bowie Main Street, West Bowie Village, and Pointer Ridge. These four existing commercial areas are designated as mixed-use activity centers suitable for a wide array of public, commercial, employment, and residential land uses. The plan recommends that flexible zoning regulations be enacted to preserve rural character and sensitive environmental features. The Area-Wide Infrastructure element addresses the environment, transportation, schools, fire, police, library, parks, and trails. The Community Character element addresses economic development, historic preservation, and scenic roads. Rural and Developing Tier boundaries designated in the 2002 General Plan and boundaries of the Bowie Regional Center are redefined. Land use concepts and illustrative sketches are included that encourage development centered on a future transit hub in the Bowie Regional Center. A Development District Overlay Zone (DDOZ) containing a regulating matrix, design standards, and a table of uses are included to facilitate implementation of the plan’s land use recommendations for Old Town Bowie. The sectional map amendment implements the land use concepts in the master plan.
- 2006 Approved Bowie and Vicinity Area Master Plan
- City Council position statements regarding 2006 Bowie and Vicinity Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment
Master Plan Explained
For planning purposes, the County is divided into seven subregions, which are further divided into 36 planning areas. Each planning area is a fairly cohesive district that is typically bounded by a major highway, political boundary, and/or a natural border such as a stream valley. Master plans may be prepared for an individual planning area, group of planning areas, or entire subregions. Master plans provide specific recommendations on the environment, historic preservation, living areas and housing, commercial areas, employment areas, urban design, circulation and transportation (including highways and mass transit), and public facilities. Where appropriate, some plans may cover additional issues such as economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Master plans also address the adequacy of public facilities. Land use proposals are analyzed for their impact on schools, police, fire, rescue, libraries, health, parks, and trails. Recommendations are then made to correct any projected deficiencies of these public services and assets. In addition, an analysis of the balance between the proposed land uses and the proposed transportation system is undertaken. The master plans are the final authority on highway and mass transit right-of-way land reservations. The planned land uses become the basis for decisions on where new schools, fire stations, and other public facilities will be needed in the future. Master plans are also used to guide decisions on zoning change, special exceptions, and subdivision applications. Probably the most important function of the area master plans is that they are used as the basis for comprehensive rezoning (sectional map amendments).