Lakisha Hull Selected as New Director for the Prince George’s County Planning Department
January 8, 2024
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Lakisha Hull Selected as New Director for the Prince George’s County Planning Department
M-NCPPC Prince George’s County Planning Board Announces Appointment
LARGO, MD – Today, the Prince George’s County Planning Board of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) announced its appointment of Lakisha Hull as the new Director for the Prince George’s County Planning Department following a six-month-long nationwide search. Beginning January 8, 2024, Hull will assume leadership of the department charged with advising and working with the Planning Board, elected officials, and the community to shape land use planning, zoning, and economic development plans for the County. She will report to the five-member Planning Board and lead more than 200 staff members in the development of master and sector plans, studies, data-driven initiatives, and policy updates, as well as the review of development applications and the preservation of environmental resources and historic properties.
“Lakisha’s leadership will be beneficial as Prince George’s County – diverse in both land use and in population – continues to evolve in this highly competitive region, and we collectively work to realize the goals outlined in Plan Prince George’s 2035 – the approved general plan for the County,” stated Peter A. Shapiro, Chair of M-NCPPC and the Prince George’s County Planning Board. “With her extensive background in planning, development, zoning, permitting, and policy and regulation, we are confident that Lakisha will contribute greatly to the County’s priorities for vibrant transit-oriented development, healthy communities, sustainability, and economic growth.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my planning and transportation expertise to further support the mission, vision, and values of the Planning Department,” said Hull. “I look forward to leveraging multi-agency partnerships and collaboration with the public, various governmental agencies, businesses, and other key stakeholders. It is an exciting time to lead a team of professional planners to further implement the goals and policies of the adopted Plan. With such a rich history of diverse communities and great state of the art facilities, I will strive in balancing sustainability efforts and innovation, while encouraging best practices for Prince George’s County.”
Hull succeeds Andree Green Checkley, Esq., who retired in May 2023. Acting Planning Director Suzann M. King will resume her position as Deputy Planning Director of Administration. “Suzann is a tremendous asset to our leadership team, and we are grateful for her dedication and expertise during this period of transition,” said Shapiro. “In addition to guiding the department with planning initiatives and the launch of new programs, Suzann has successfully led the relocation efforts of our offices to our new headquarters in Largo, Maryland – as aligned with the unified vision outlined in Plan Prince George’s 2035.”
About Lakisha Hull, AICP, LEED AP BD+C
Lakisha Hull brings more than 20 years of professional experience in community planning, land development, permitting, policy and regulation, transportation planning, urban design, and zoning serving in government agencies in the cities of Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, Fla., and Los Angeles, Calif. She most recently served as Planning Director of the City of Miami, Fla. where she led a department of seven divisions: Administration, Art In Public Spaces, Comprehensive Planning, Hearing Boards, Historic and Environmental Preservation, Land Development, and Urban Design. Throughout her career, she has led successful budget development and implementation, strategic planning of organizational units, permitting process efficiencies, and innovation in long-range planning policies and initiatives. Hull has led successful public participation plans, updates to codes and policies, and managed large-scale projects and streetscape plans with cumulative construction budgets of over $5+ billion. She prioritizes professional development to ensure that she leads multi-disciplinary teams who are able to apply the latest planning principles and customer service strategies as public servants.
Hull earned a dual master’s degree in architecture and city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Design. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Hull earned professional certifications from the American Institute of Certified Planners and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, and U.S. Green Building Council.
About the Prince George’s County Planning Board
The Prince George’s County Planning Board, together with the Montgomery County Planning Board, make up The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission – a bi-county agency set up under State law in 1927 to acquire, develop, maintain, and administer a regional system of parks and administer a general plan for the physical development of both counties. In Prince George’s County, the agency also administers the public recreation program. The Planning Board’s responsibilities include supervising preparation of land use plans and comprehensive zoning maps, advising the County Council on zoning map amendment and special exception applications, and reviewing and approving site plans. The Board also oversees the Commission’s work in the County, as carried out by the Parks and Recreation and Planning Departments. Visit www.pgplanningboard.org for more information.
About the Prince George’s County Planning Department
The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is responsible for preserving, protecting, and managing the county’s resources through high-quality planning services and growth management guidance. Visit www.pgplanning.org to learn how you can become engaged in shaping the future of your community.
Contact:
Calista Black
Chief Communications Officer
M-NCPPC Prince George’s County Planning Board | Office of the Chairman
calista.black@mncppc.org | 301-952-3038
