Online questionnaire asks public to evaluate concepts for buildings, transportation systems, civic spaces and focal areas for environmental best practices.
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is inviting stakeholders and residents to participate in the online “Feedback Loop” from December 8 through December 19 for the ongoing Bethesda Downtown Plan.
This online questionnaire encourages the public to offer views on a number of concepts, ranging from bike paths to building heights, proposed for the Plan. From this feedback, planners will be able to confirm their understanding of the community’s priorities for Downtown Bethesda.
The Bethesda Downtown Plan Feedback Loop will be available starting Monday, December 8 at www.bethesdadowntownplan.org
What is a Feedback Loop? A Feedback Loop is an opportunity for community members to engage in a productive dialogue with planners about the future being envisioned in a new plan. It provides an online venue for the planners to take the temperature of the community on concepts before they become final.
The Feedback Loop is coming after a year of work on the Bethesda Downtown Plan. This effort has included multiple public meetings, outreach events and a visual preferences survey. The Feedback Loop is an opportunity to react to preliminary planning concepts proposed for the Bethesda Downtown Plan. To learn even more about these proposed plan concepts, the public can watch the staff briefing to the Planning Board on December 11, either live or recorded.
In addition, a public meeting will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2015 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814). At that event, planning staff will present the concepts and feedback from the December 11 Planning Board meeting and answer questions from the audience.
The plan concepts open for public comment include:
- New civic gathering spaces and green amenities
- Transportation options, including bike paths and Purple Line access
- Pedestrian networks and street extension
- Proposed allowable building heights
- Transitional areas next to residential neighborhoods
- Focal areas of sustainability incorporating best environmental practices
After the results of the Feedback Loop, planners will complete the Staff Draft of the Bethesda Downtown Plan in March or April 2015. There will be a public meeting to present the Staff Draft in 2015.
Feedback Loop Schedule:
- Weigh in online at www.bethesdadowntownplan.org using the Feedback Loop online from 12/8 until 12/19.
- Watch the staff brief the Planning Board on the Plan Concepts on 12/11
- Attend the Drop-In session on Thursday, January 28, 2015 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814).
Check out all the details on the Bethesda Downtown Plan: www.bethesdadowntownplan.org
Watch the video recording Bethesda Downtown Plan Online Property Owners Forum held on October 29, 2014. Review a map of “Properties Under Discussion” to understand the ideas for the longer term future of Bethesda as the sector plan update proceeds. Also, review a map of “Pending and Recent Project Approvals in/and around Bethesda.” This “Development Finder” map shows projects that are recently completed or are already moving forward through our Development Review process under the current 1994 Bethesda Central Business District Plan or the 2006 Woodmont Triangle Amendment to that plan.
Questions, comments?
Email: bethesdadowntownplan@montgomeryplanning.org