Councilmember Hans Riemer and Planning Department staff invited the public to learn more about making the Bethesda Downtown more accessible for walking and cycling
SILVER SPRING — The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and County Councilmember Hans Riemer (At-Large) held a public meeting to review pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure recommendations in the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD).
This community forum, Walking, Biking and the New Bethesda Sector Plan, was intended for those county residents interested in the Planning Board recommendations for making Downtown Bethesda more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The discussion focused on showing what is proposed for Bethesda and how these proposals are different from what is there today, and why it will be better for pedestrians and cyclists if the changes are actually made.
View the bicycle and pedestrian recommendation video from the January 11 meeting.
View the handout from the January 11 meeting.
View the video recap from the January 11 meeting featuring Councilmember Hans Riemer, Chair Casey Anderson and Planning Director Gwen Wright.
Councilmember Hans Riemer (At-Large) came up with the idea for the meeting, which was co-sponsored by the Planning Department. The community forum was timed to take place prior to County Council deliberations on the Planning Board-approved draft of the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan that will begin in mid-January.
Background on the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan
Launched in 2014, the new Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan builds on the success of Downtown Bethesda by offering ways to strengthen its centers of activity – Bethesda Row, Wisconsin Avenue corridor, Woodmont Triangle and other established and emerging districts – over the next 20 years. One of its recommendations is a high-performance area that will incentivize more energy-efficient buildings, new parks, tree-lined streets and innovative storm water management. Making Bethesda into a truly sustainable downtown – economically, socially and environmentally – is the plan’s top priority.
Other goals of the plan focus on:
-A mix of housing options, including preservation of market-rate affordable apartments and new moderately priced dwelling units in exchange for development incentives.
-New and/or expanded civic greens at Veteran’s Park, Bethesda Farm Women’s Cooperative Market and Capital Crescent Trail.
-Economic competitiveness within the region based on new development, public amenities and proximity to transit, including Metrorail and the proposed Purple Line light rail.
The Plan serves as an amendment to the approved and adopted 1994 Bethesda Central Business District Sector Plan and the 2006 Woodmont Triangle Amendment to that Sector Plan.
View the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan Planning Board Draft.
For questions or comments about the Bethesda plan, please email: bethesdadownplan@montgomeryplanning.org