In a bid to keep and grow its flagship biohealth sector, Montgomery County is dramatically streamlining its regulatory review process for industry players who want to build or expand big lab facilities.
A new zoning text amendment, which the County Council unanimously approved Tuesday, will slash the lab entitlement process time from nearly two years to six months in an effort to “roll out the red carpet” for biotech industry leaders, said Councilman Andrew Friedson, D-District 1, who spearheaded the legislation.
Image: Montgomery County Councilman Andrew Friedson, D-District 1, speaks at a county event to unveil a new zoning process change. The Wednesday gathering was held outside of biotech United Therapeutics’ Silver Spring campus. DAN BRENDEL