Opportunities to learn about the Attainable Housing Strategies initiative, participate in two Montgomery County Council public hearings on Thrive Montgomery 2050, and more ways to get involved
WHEATON, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their June 2021 calendar of online meetings. For more details, review the list of events below and visit www.montgomeryplanning.org.
During this time of social distancing in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Planning Board will continue to hold public meetings online while Montgomery Planning’s new headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD) is closed to the public. Community members may sign up to testify and provide comments to the Board, during the meeting, on specific agenda items through Microsoft Teams or phone. Written testimony may be submitted in advance of the meeting. The April schedule of events is subject to change based on the ongoing response to the COVID-19 virus.
There are many ways to participate in Planning Board meetings:
- Watch the Planning Board meeting live online and on demand.
- Listen live over the phone to the Planning Board meeting by calling: 866-774-0898 Password: 24252020
- Sign up to testify via phone during the Planning Board meeting. To testify, fill out the Sign Up to Testify form by 12 noon on the day before the Planning Board meeting. On the afternoon before the meeting, you will receive an email with a phone number to call during a designated time to provide your testimony for a specific agenda item. Submitting this form online by the deadline is the only way to testify on meeting items.
- Email your written testimony with comments on specific Planning Board agenda items to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org by 12 noon on the day before the Planning Board meeting.
- If you have questions, send an email to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org or leave a message at 301-495-4605 and a staff member in the Planning Board Chair’s office will contact you.
June 1 – Montgomery Planning will host the third and final session in the virtual CommUNITY Conversations in Fairland series called, “Grassroots Advocacy on CommUNITY Green Space: Mastering the Art of CommUNITY Collaboration” (6 – 8 p.m.). In the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan area and throughout the region, parks and community green spaces are in high demand. In collaboration with neighborhood champions, this session will focus on community engagement strategies, grassroots advocacy, increased access to community green spaces and food networks. In the session, we will explore how the Community Garden program (in the Fairland and Briggs Chaney area) is one of many programs that provide opportunities to strengthen community and working partnerships. Registration is required and this program has been approved for AICP and ASLA continuing education credits.
June 2 – Montgomery Planning will host the third virtual Attainable Housing Strategies community meeting (7 p.m.). Attainable Housing Strategies is an initiative by the Planning Department that is reviewing zoning and planning policies to come up with a comprehensive strategy to spur the development of more diverse types of housing, including Missing Middle Housing, in Montgomery County. Planning staff will share preliminary recommendations and hold a question and answer session after the presentation. Registration is required.
June 3 – The Planning Board will hold its meeting online. The Board will be briefed and provide comments on the County Executive’s draft Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan and the FY 22-23 Work Plan. The Board will also hear an update on the Visioning Phase of the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan, and will hold a public hearing for the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan Minor Master Plan Amendment. There will also be a public hearing for the Environmental Guidelines Draft Updates. Consult the Planning Board’s agenda, posted 10 days before the meeting for more information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
Montgomery Planning staff will hold virtual office hours where community members can sign up for a time slot to ask staff questions about the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative. Registration is required.
June 9 – The Historic Preservation Commission will hold its meeting online. Consult the HPC meeting webpage for agenda information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
June 10 – The Planning Board will hold its meeting online. Consult the Planning Board’s agenda, posted 10 days before the meeting for more information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
June 14 – Montgomery Planning will host a “Housing Day” on social media in honor of National Homeownership Month 2021. As part of this day, Housing Policy Coordinator Lisa Govoni will host a live Twitter chat between noon and 1 p.m. to answer the community’s housing questions and ask a few of her own. Topics will focus on housing recommendations in Thrive Montgomery 2050 and a discussion of the preliminary recommendations in the Attainable Housing Strategies initiative. To participate, make sure to follow Montgomery Planning on Twitter (@montgomeryplans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/montgomeryplanning).
June 17 – The Planning Board will hold its meeting online. Consult the Planning Board’s agenda, posted 10 days before the meeting for more information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
The Montgomery County Council will hold the first of two virtual public hearings at 7 p.m. for the Planning Board Draft of the update to the General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050. Visit the County Council website to learn how to submit testimony and to watch the public hearing live.
June 23 – The Historic Preservation Commission will hold its meeting online. Consult the HPC meeting webpage for agenda information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
June 24 – The Planning Board will hold its meeting online. During this meeting, the Board will receive a presentation on the Attainable Housing Strategies initiative from Planning staff and will receive public comments. Consult the Planning Board’s agenda, posted 10 days before the meeting for more information. Watch the meetings online via live stream or review previous meetings on demand.
June 29 – The Montgomery County Council will hold the second of two virtual public hearings at 7 p.m. for the update to the General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050. Visit the County Council website to learn how to submit testimony and to watch the public hearing live.
Stay connected to us online by following and liking Montgomery Planning news and information on the following social media channels:
Twitter: @montgomeryplans
Instagram: @montgomeryplanning
Facebook: www.facebook.com/montgomeryplanning
YouTube: www.youtube.com/montgomeryplanning