Community residents and county planners discuss proposed zoning for residential properties during second session of Montgomery Village Matters series
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, held the second of its MV Matters community meetings to discuss details of the Montgomery Village Master Plan on Monday, January 12, from 7-9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD). The purpose of the meeting was to explain that the existing Town Sector Zone would not be used in the new plan but that the new zoning categories would closely resemble what is in place now. Discussion focused only on the zoning being proposed for residential properties.
At the start of the meeting, Montgomery County planning staff explained basic information about what zoning is, why zoning is used, the standards and uses included in zoning districts, and what zoning does or does not do. Participants then proceeded to specific breakout groups to discuss the proposed zoning for single family homes, townhouses and multi-family dwellings in Montgomery Village with staff. Fact sheets about the zoning details and maps showing the proposed zones were made available. Staff answered questions and noted concerns and items for follow-up.
View the MV Matters PowerPoint presentation from the January 12 meeting.
Discussion about the new zoning in Montgomery Village will continue at the next MV Matters meeting on Monday, January 26 from 7-9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD). The focus will be on the commercial centers in the Village. County planning staff will provide an overview of the centers and will ask participants to comment on those areas they would like to see revitalized and to share their concerns and suggestions regarding these properties.
At a community meeting on Monday, February 9, the Montgomery Village property that was formerly used as a golf course will be discussed, as well as strategies for retaining and preserving open spaces in the community.
What is MV Matters All About?
MVMatters is a series of outreach events meant to engage the community in the Montgomery Village Master Plan. Village residents are invited to learn about specific subject topics, such as urban design, land use, parks, environment and transportation at the sessions. Through the meetings, planners have received feedback from residents on what they view as their top priorities for the village. For more information on the Scope of Work for the Montgomery Village Mater Plan, go to www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/
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Learn More: www.montgomeryplanning.org/mvp
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Master Plan Background:
Montgomery Village has not been part of a Master Plan review since the 1985 Gaithersburg Vicinity Master Plan, nor has it been the subject of a discrete County master plan in the past. Although Montgomery Village was within the boundaries of both the 1971 Gaithersburg Vicinity Master Plan and the 1985 Master Plan, neither plan contains recommendations or guidance for this community because the Village fell within the Town Sector Zone, which did not allow properties to be rezoned for a 50-year period that comes to a close in 2015. When the Planning Department initiated an update to the Gaithersburg Master Plan in 2007, Montgomery Village was originally included within its boundaries. However, with large swaths of land on both sides of I-270 presenting different planning issues and challenges, the Planning Department realized the area was too big to be analyzed effectively.
In 2008, the Planning Department divided the large Gaithersburg Master Plan area into two planning efforts – one for the west side of I-270, which became the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan (GSSC), and one for the east side of I-270 – Gaithersburg East. In 2014, the County Council directed the Planning Department to further refine the Gaithersburg East Plan to have one plan for Montgomery Village and one plan for the remainder of Gaithersburg East. The Council also directed the Planning Director to work efficiently on the Montgomery Village Plan, with the goal of having a draft plan transmitted to the Council within 12 months of the plan start date, because it wanted the zoning to be reassessed holistically before the prohibition on piecemeal rezoning of Town Sector property expired in 2015.