Community members invited to sign up to testify or provide comments during Public Hearing; Planning team to hold virtual Q&A session on draft recommendations on November 16
Wheaton, MD –The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), scheduled a Public Hearing for the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan for December 2, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The Board also approved the plan’s Working Draft as the Public Hearing Draft at its October 28, 2021 meeting. It was the first time Montgomery Planning staff had presented the plan’s draft recommendations to the Board and follows the July 29, 2021 Board presentation on the plan’s big ideas.
The Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan builds upon the success of the 2000 Silver Spring Central Business District Sector Plan, which envisioned a green, transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly downtown with a strong commercial and residential development market. The Public Hearing Draft includes recommendations for land use and zoning, housing, economic growth, urban design, transportation, parks and public spaces, environmental resiliency, community facilities, and historic resources. As the first Sector Plan to follow the passage of Montgomery County’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, equity is woven throughout the plan and the four overarching themes that emerged after engaging with stakeholders:
- Diversity
- Resiliency
- Connectivity
- Community Health
The Public Hearing, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on December 2, 2021, will be hosted in person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online via Microsoft Teams. Community members are invited to sign up to testify or provide written comments by 12 p.m. on December 1, 2021.
View the Public Hearing Draft
Sign up to testify at the Public Hearing
Ahead of the Public Hearing, the Planning team will hold a virtual, one-hour Q&A session on November 16 from 7 to 8 p.m (click to sign up to attend). The community is invited to attend this informal chat with the Planning team to ask questions and learn more about the plan’s draft recommendations. This event is a follow-up to the team’s virtual meeting with the community on October 25 called, “Silver Spring Tomorrow.”
To stay up-to-date on the progress of this plan, sign up for our eLetter. You can also reach out directly to the project team with any questions or comments about the plan:
Atara Margolies, project manager
301-495-4558
Atara.margolies@montgomeryplanning.org
About the Downtown Silver Spring and Adjacent Communities Plan
The 2000 Silver Spring Central Business District Sector Plan established a planning framework for downtown Silver Spring that envisioned a green, transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly downtown with a strong commercial and residential development market. In the 20 years since the adoption of the downtown Silver Spring Sector Plan, the area has transformed from an area in decline to a vibrant destination for offices, retail, restaurants and entertainment that is defined by its unique diversity. Montgomery Planning is updating the downtown Silver Spring Sector Plan to guide Silver Spring’s future growth.
Through the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan process, Montgomery Planning will analyze and reevaluate all aspects of the existing plan, consider the recommended changes implemented from the last plan, and assess future needs – all informed by community conversation and input. View the plan’s Scope of Work that the Planning Board approved in June 2020.