Board discussed changes to the plan, including revisions to streets and zoning, before voting to transmit Planning Board Draft to Council.
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, held its final work session on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at the Planning Department headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) to discuss the Planning Board changes to the Public Hearing Draft of the Montgomery Village Master Plan. After this discussion, the Board voted to transmit the Planning Board Draft Montgomery Village Master Plan and the proposed zoning text amendment for the overlay zone to the Montgomery County Council.
Topics discussed during the work session included changes to language regarding the implementation program for Wightman Road, future right-of-way for the Stewartown Road extension, zoning options for the Montgomery Village Foundation site and changes to the proposed Montgomery Village Overlay Zone.
An overlay zone imposes requirements and standards that are necessary to achieve the planning goals and objectives for development or redevelopment of an area. In Montgomery Village, the overlay zone will restrict the permitted uses for property zoned RE-1 in order to preserve the recreation and open space provided on certain properties owned and operated by the Montgomery Village Foundation. In addition, the zone is intended to ensure a compatible relationship between new and existing development, and preserve the unique character of Montgomery Village.
View the Planning Board Draft of the Montgomery Village Master Plan.
About the Montgomery Village Master Plan
The new Master Plan builds on the assets of Montgomery Village through four major recommendations:
Preserve the Village’s character: Built in the 1960s by Kettler Brothers, Montgomery Village was purposefully planned with a vast range of housing types. From the apartment communities clustered in the lower Village to the grand colonials of Whetstone, the homes appeal to a variety of lifestyles with a wide selection of designs and prices for residents. The Master Plan recommends preserving this variety and expanding housing choices in the future.
Maintain the public recreation and open spaces: The Village’s sylvan environment is one of its greatest assets. The Master Plan strongly recommends that most of its recreation and open spaces be maintained and preserved. When new development or redevelopment occurs, developers should emulate the Kettlers’ town planning principles to provide ample green spaces, vistas and recreational opportunities. Additional trail connections, with natural or hard surfaces, should be provided to enhance community connectivity.
Encourage reinvestment: Montgomery Village has six conveniently located shopping areas (Montgomery Village Crossing, Montgomery Village Plaza, The Village Center, Goshen Plaza, Goshen Crossing and Goshen Oaks) throughout the community that serve the everyday retail needs of residents. Over several decades, however, retail competition has grown in the mid-County area and consumer preferences have shifted, as has the tenant mix in the Village’s centers. Some redevelopment opportunities exist in the Village, and the Master Plan strongly recommends a sustainable and competitive Village Center. Short blocks with identifiable edges to reinforce the mixed uses and the introduction of new housing units can potentially transform the suburban blocks into walkable, connected and inviting areas, reinvigorating a sense of community and creating attractive centers for community life.
Enhance connectivity: The Master Plan encourages increased options for mobility and connectivity by all modes — transit, walking, biking and private motor vehicles. The Village’s private street network, coupled with many trails and pedestrian connections, offers unique opportunities to enhance multimodal links. Montgomery Village can improve connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists by providing missing links to open spaces, parks, the Village Center and other destinations around the community and beyond.
In order to help achieve these goals, the Master Plan recommends an overlay zone as an implementation measure. The Town Sector zone will not be used going forward, which means all the properties in the village must be rezoned. A large-scale rezoning of this kind is rare, and concerns have been raised about its implementation. The Montgomery Village Overlay Zone is intended to preserve the unique Village character; protect existing open space and conservation areas; and ensure a compatible relationship between new and existing development.
Past PowerPoint presentations and other materials from the Montgomery Village Master Plan process are posted on the Montgomery Village Master Plan webpage.