Elizabeth M. Hewlett

Chairman
Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission

During her tenure as chairman, Elizabeth Hewlett has successfully led to more transparency in both the planning aspects and the parks and recreation processes of the Commission. It is her “most significant professional accomplishment,” she said.
With citizens faced with a county transforming itself within a “massive, antiquated zoning ordinance” and conflicting regulations in planning, Elizabeth has taken myriad steps to foster greater community participation at the earliest stages of the land use process before zoning is enacted or individual applications are heard. She ensures that hearings are streamed live and retained on the commission’s website for community review.

The rewards are apparent. “I am pleased that we have much greater stakeholder and community input at our hearings and informal meetings as our county transforms from its rural roots to a more urban, high-tech environment, while retaining a good portion of rural farmland and open space,” she says.
Also, in parks and recreation, the commission during her tenure has won its fifth and sixth National Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks & Recreation Services—a national record.

For many years, Elizabeth has participated in the county bar association’s Doctor/Lawyer program to help educate middle and high school students about the legal and physiological consequences of drug and alcohol use. She has mentored countless law students and young attorneys. She represented many people and entities on a pro-bono basis while she was in private practice.

She has served on the Prince George’s County Census effort, the Governor’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding and has been active in holiday toy drives, food shelter packing and has spoken to participants in Leadership Greater Washington.

Elizabeth’s many honors include the J. Joseph Curran Award for Public Service, Lifetime Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, Gladys Noon Spellman Public Service Award, Wayne K. Curry Distinguished Service Award, Honorable James H. Taylor Award, Top 100 Women Who Mean Business Award (Washington Business Journal), Region’s 100 Most Powerful Women (Washingtonian magazine), Influential Marylander Award (The Daily Record) and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Bar Association.