Wright will join Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner on September 15 at Washington Convention Center for discussion of recent, fine-grained planning efforts
Silver Spring, MD – Gwen Wright, Director of the Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will present recent strategies for retrofitting the suburbs on September 15 at the Smart Cities Week conference at the Washington Convention Center.
Wright will focus on transit-oriented development in established, inner-ring communities, such as Bethesda and Silver Spring, as well as how similar, mixed-use, walkable development is being planned for areas without immediate access to transit, such as Westbard and Rock Spring.
“As Montgomery County grows and becomes denser and more populated, the need for strategic, well designed infill will become paramount,” says Wright. “Our recent plans focus on retrofitting the suburbs with new infrastructure, affordable housing, open space and places to work, shop and play, all within a 10-minute walk. We are taking this approach for Metro-accessible communities as well as for places where Metro is a bus ride away.”
Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner, who represents the Potomac-Bethesda area, will join Wright to participate in the Smart Cities session. He will focus on the 2010 White Flint Sector Plan for North Bethesda and its implementation thus far in development projects such as Pike & Rose.
About Smart Cities Week:
Smart Cities Week, held in Washington, DC from September 15 through 17, 2015, is North America’s first conference and exhibition focused on holistic, integrated approaches to sustainable urban places. Developed by the Smart Cities Council, an educational group, the event highlights best practices for breaking down barriers to progress and instilling a culture of collaboration —solutions that public officials can use to improve livability, workability and sustainability in their communities.