New White Flint 2 and Rock Spring Plans, Bicycle Master Plan and revised Recreation Guidelines among funded projects for fiscal year starting July 1, 2015
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has secured the County Council’s approval to proceed with its ambitious work program for fiscal year 2016 (FY16).
The Montgomery County Council approved the Department’s $19 million budget for FY16 at its meeting on Thursday, May 21. These funds support the work program for 147 employees. Highlights of major projects to be undertaken by the Planning Department in FY16 include:
White Flint 2 Sector Plan: Work on this plan was to start in 2010 after the completion of the White Flint Sector Plan, but was postponed to 2015. The new Sector Plan will examine land uses, transportation, infrastructure and public facilities in areas to the west, north and east of the 2010 White Flint Sector Plan boundaries. Learn more about the White Flint 2 Sector Plan.
Rock Spring Sector Plan Amendment: Starting in July, this plan for Rock Spring will explore new opportunities for a 247-acre area east of Montgomery Mall that is currently occupied mostly by office buildings, including the headquarters for Lockheed Martin and Marriott. A new street network, public amenities, residential uses and environmental upgrades will be examined for the area.
Subdivision Staging (Growth Policy): The Subdivision Staging Policy is being revised to promote strategies designed to balance the impact of growth on the County with the capacity of infrastructure, such as transportation and schools. The goal is to ensure public facilities are adequate to accommodate new development and growth in the County, and new tools are developed to evaluate the true impact of this development on public infrastructure.
Retail Study: Given Montgomery County’s focus on creating mixed-use environments, it is imperative to understand emerging retail trends and how they will influence the County’s economic competitiveness. The Planning Department will conduct a study with the help of a consultant to determine national and regional trends affecting shopping environments, and develop recommendations for future plans.
MARC Stations at Boyds/Germantown: Work will begin this fall on evaluating land use, zoning, design and access conditions at the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) rail stations in Boyds and Germantown. The resulting plans will recommend physical and operational improvements to the stations and enhancements to access and parking.
Bicycle Master Plan: Cities across the United States have taken the lead in retrofitting streets for bikes. Now Montgomery County aims to be at the forefront among suburban jurisdictions in planning a high-quality bicycling network. The opportunities to create these facilities are immense, as older areas such as White Flint and Shady Grove are rebuilt, and newer transit projects such as the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway and Bus Rapid Transit System are implemented.
The Montgomery County Planning Department is launching a new Bicycle Master Plan in July to realize this effort. The Plan will consider the newest types of bikeways, such as separated bike lanes, buffered bike lanes and bicycle boulevards, as well as secure bicycle storage facilities. Learn more about the Bicycle Master Plan.
New Recreation Guidelines: The Recreation Guidelines, last adopted in 1992, are being revised in response to the County’s need for more urban-style recreation space in mixed-use developments around transit centers. The updated guidelines will provide an expanded list of recreation facilities to serve a variety of age groups, including rooftop areas, indoor fitness centers, community gardens and urban plazas. They will result in a more effective recreation plan for each site.
Master Plan Reality Check: This study aims to determine how well recent County Master Plans have been carried out in addressing changing density, infrastructure, transportation and land use in the County. Findings will influence the development of future Master and Sector Plans.