New digital tool allows residents and businesses to learn about new development projects and promote their communities in the County
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has helped the Office of the County Executive launch a new online tool in partnership with the Montgomery Business Development Corporation for tracking the progress of development in the County. Called the Development Database, this digital resource builds on existing digital information about planned and projects under construction. Its introduction was announced at a press conference held on Monday, November 23 in the County’s Executive’s Conference Room in Rockville.
“Montgomery County has made tremendous investments in making our community more attractive, walkable and vibrant, even during the worst economic downturn,” said County Executive Ike Leggett, “because quality of place is essential to attracting businesses and talent.”
The web-based portal allows users to visually explore proposed, approved, under construction and recently completed development projects in Montgomery County. The Database lets residents see what is planned in their communities and enables businesses to easily gather information about development in the pipeline to help with investment decisions.
“This tool represents a collaborative effort to promote development in the County and draw attention to the new, sustainable designs being built in our communities,” said Casey Anderson, Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board. “It provides an easy, accessible way to understand the quality of growth in the County.”
County officials can use the tool to promote the diversity and robustness of Montgomery’s real estate market. This mapping tool consolidates information from multiple County data sources and provides user-friendly descriptions, as well as photographs of the projects. As a “living” resource, the database will be continuously updated as new projects are proposed, approved and built.
“Supporting economic development efforts in the County is a priority for the Planning Department,” said Planning Director Gwen Wright. “This Development Database tool is an example of our commitment to make doing business in the County as user-friendly and transparent as possible. It is exciting that we were able to collaborate with our County partners to further this goal.”
“The Development Database is an innovative tool that our business community can utilize to gather current, relevant and data-driven information concerning significant real estate development projects in Montgomery County. Additionally, the Database is a great marketing tool to attract prospective developers and corporations considering investment in our community,” said Robby Brewer, Chair of the Montgomery Business Development Corporation.
The new database can be accessed at montgomerybusiness.org/developmentdatabase. It complements the Planning Department’s digital Development Activity Information Center (DAIC), launched in 2005. DAIC, already an indispensable tool, provides the public a review timeline and document access related to the latest development projects. Now, with the enhanced Development Database, the public will have access to project narratives and photos, providing a more user-friendly experience.
The new Development Database enhances DAIC by providing more descriptive information about future projects. The database makes it easier to track construction projects in the pipeline and understand the extent of development throughout the County.