As Howard County's next General Plan update, HoCo By Design will be a visionary document reflecting a process that encourages the community to think big about its long-term future. Upon adoption, the General Plan will present official statements and preferences toward growth, development, and conservation in the County and help current and future leaders make decisions about regulations, requirements, ordinances, and policies. While the General Plan provides a long-term 20 year vision for the future, its implementation occurs in incremental steps over time, which will be outlined in the final document.
“HoCo” is a colloquialism used by those with ties to Howard County. It is what makes the term familiar for the new General Plan, always thinking local and from within the community about the best path forward. Furthermore, the project will be successful “By Design,” both because it will be crafted and shaped with great intentionality.
The planning process will employ an innovative stakeholder outreach initiative, which invites participation early and often from a cross-section of people represented in the County. The project’s slogan “Every Voice. One Vision.” sets the tone for the project. County officials want to hear from every voice in Howard County to manifest a collective vision for the future of the community.