Board voted on July 25 to transmit Planning Board Draft Plan to County Council for review and final approval
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, participated in the third and final Planning Board work session on July 25, 2019 to refine the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan before the Board members voted on approving the plan and transmitting it to the County Council. The Council will review the plan and hold additional work sessions during fall 2019 prior to final approval.
The sector plan’s preliminary recommendations focus on transportation and road improvements, pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity, environmental upgrades, affordable housing and land use considerations. The planning area stretches along the Georgia Avenue corridor to encompass the Montgomery Hills commercial area, the Forest Glen Metro Station area and the Wheaton medical office parks. The plan boundary extends along Georgia Avenue from Spring Street to Dennis Avenue.
About the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan
The Montgomery County Planning Department launched the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan in 2017 with a study of traffic conditions along the Georgia Avenue corridor from 16th Street in Silver Spring to the Forest Glen Metro Station.
Previous plans for the area, including the 1996 Forest Glen Sector Plan and 2000 Silver Spring North and West Master Plan and 1989 Kensington-Wheaton Master Plan, need to be updated due to recent changes planned for the corridor. The Maryland State Highway Administration initiated planning for road improvements along Georgia Avenue between 16th Street and the Capital Beltway, and these upgrades will affect properties on both sides of the road. In addition, Montgomery County approved a pedestrian tunnel to provide safe walking access from the east side of Georgia Avenue to the Forest Glen Metro Station.
The Montgomery Planning team explored ways of improving pedestrian and bicycle access, connectivity and safety within the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills plan area. Strategies to help implement the county’s Vision Zero policy to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries by 2030 are included in the plan.
Opportunities for redevelopment at strategic locations to provide walkable, neighborhood-serving development were examined, as well as previous plans and studies of streetscape designs to improve sidewalks, street trees and outdoor lighting.
All previous meetings, presentations, videos and outreach materials related to the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan are available at montgomeryplanning.org/forestglen
For more information, contact lead planner Melissa Williams at 301-495-4642 or Melissa.Williams@montgomeryplanning.org.