Purpose
The Design Advisory Panel (DAP) is an integral part of the Bethesda Overlay Zone. The primary goal of the Design Advisory Panel is to provide advice and recommendations that will heighten design excellence and improve the quality of architecture, urban design and landscape architecture in Bethesda. The Advisory Panel will be guided by the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan and the related Design Guidelines.
View the Design Advisory Panel Rules of Procedure (updated September 2020).
Panel Members
- Yulia Beltikova, Registered Architect from the Greater Montgomery County Community
- Jonathan Fitch, Registered Landscape Architect
- Rod Henderer, Bethesda Community Member
- Robert Sponseller, Representing Academia
- John Tschiderer, Member of the Development Community
- Paul Mortensen, Ex-officio Member, Senior Urban Designer in the Director’s Office
Submission Requirements
- Schedule a Design Advisory Panel review date with the Design Advisory Panel Liaison.
- A minimum of two weeks prior to the scheduled Design Advisory Panel meeting, provide the completed Submission Form and drawings for review in PDF format to the Design Advisory Panel Liaison via email. Please note: The Design Advisory Panel Submission Form has been updated. Beginning March 1, 2020, all submissions are required to submit the updated Submission Form.
- Please see Submission Form for submittal requirements.
The following is an example submission that was well-received for its clarity and completeness:
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings typically take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. These meeting dates and times are subject to change. Currently all meetings are hybrid, both in-person and online. To attend, please email Cashielle Nelson.
2024 Schedule
- January 24, 2024
- February 21, 2024 (Third Wednesday due to February schedule)
- March 27, 2024
- April 24, 2024
- May 22, 2024
- June 26, 2024
- July 24, 2024
- No August 2024 Meeting
- September 25, 2024
- October 23, 2024
- November 20, 2024 (Third Wednesday due to the holiday)
- No December 2024 Meeting
Public Participation
While the DAP meetings are primarily for panel members to consider and comment on proposed developments, meetings should be collaborative, and input from developers, their consultants, and members of the public is encouraged. Because panel members are volunteers, however, the DAP is not expected to meet for more than one hour on any single project.
Members of the public who wish to participate in a DAP meeting should notify the DAP’s staff liaison before the meeting. Those who have not notified the staff liaison in advance may sign up to participate the day of the meeting. Citizens will be invited to participate in the order in which they sign up. In certain cases, there may not be sufficient time for all interested citizens to participate. Members of the public who wish to ensure their comments are considered by the DAP should submit them in writing to the DAP’s staff liaison no later than twenty-four hours before the DAP meeting. Any written comments submitted to the DAP will also be sent to the Planning Board before the Board meets to consider the proposed development.
Although DAP meetings are intended to be informal, it may be necessary in certain cases, such as meetings with many interested citizens, for the DAP to impose equitable time limits on public comments or other reasonable rules of order. When possible, the staff liaison will announce time limits at the start of the DAP meeting.
Meeting Materials
DAP Meeting materials, including agenda and development application submission forms, will be posted one week prior to the meeting. Meetings notes and recordings will be posted generally within one week of the DAP meeting.
Next Meeting:
October 23, 2024; Submissions Due: October 9, 2024
Past Meetings: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
September 25, 2024
- September 2024 Agenda
- September 2024 Staff Memo
- September 2024 Meeting Notes
- Item #1 Lot 25 Submission | Video
June 26, 2024
- July 2024 Agenda
- July 2024 Staff Memo
- July 2024 Meeting Notes
- Item #1 7749 Old Georgetown Road Resubmission | Video
June 26, 2024
- June 2024 Agenda
- June 2024 Staff Memo
- June 2024 Meeting Notes
- Item #1 7749 Old Georgetown Road Submission | Video
May 22, 2024
- May 2024 Agenda
- May 2024 Staff Memo
- May 2024 Meeting Notes
- Item #1 Lot 44/4702 West Virginia Ave Submission | Video
March 27, 2024
- March 2024 Agenda
- March 2024 Staff Memo
- March 2024 Meeting Notes
- Item #1 Lot 44/4702 West Virginia Ave Submission | Video
February 21, 2024
- February 2024 Agenda
- February 2024 Staff Memo
- February 2024 Meeting Notes
- 7126 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
January 24, 2024
- January 2024 Agenda
- January 2024 Staff Memo
- January 2024 Meeting Notes
- Parking Lot 25 Redevelopment Submission | Video
November 29, 2023
- November 2023 Agenda
- November 2023 Staff Memo
- November 2023 Meeting Notes
- Parking Lot 25 Redevelopment Submission | Video
- Parking Lot 44 and 4702 West Virginia Avenue Submission | Video
October 25, 2023
- October 2023 Agenda
- October 2023 Staff Memo
- October 2023 Meeting Notes
- 4861 Battery Lane Submission– Supplemental Submission | Video
- 4405 East-West Highway Re-Submission | Video
September 27, 2023
- September 2023 Agenda
- September 2023 Staff Memo
- September 2023 Meeting Notes
- 7025 Strathmore Street Submission | Video
July 26, 2023
- July 2023 Agenda
- July 2023 Staff Memo
- July 2023 Meeting Notes
- 7749 Old Georgetown Road Re-Submission | Video
June 28, 2023
- June 2023 Agenda
- June 2023 Staff Memo
- June 2023 Meeting Notes
- 4861 Battery Lane Submission | Video
- 7749 Old Georgetown Road Submission | Video
- 4405, 4419 & 4421 East West Highway Submission | Video
January 25, 2023
- January 2023 Agenda
- January 2023 Staff Memo
- January 2023 Meeting Notes
- 4702 Chevy Chase Drive Submission – Updated | Video
- November 2022 Agenda
- November 2022 Staff Memo
- November 2022 Meeting Notes
- 7820 Wisconsin Avenue Submission – Updated | Video
- 4824 Edgemoor Lane Informational Item | Video
October 26, 2022
- October 2022 Agenda
- October 2022 Staff Memo
- October 2022 Meeting Notes
- 7126 Wisconsin Avenue Submission
- 4702 Chevy Chase Drive Submission
July 27, 2022
- July 2022 Agenda
- July 2022 Staff Memo
- July 2022 Meeting Notes
- Battery Lane Site C Submission | Video
- 7340 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
June 22, 2022
- June 2022 Agenda
- June 2022 Staff Memo
- June 2022 Meeting Notes
- Battery District – Site C Submission Form
- Battery District – Site C Narrative
- Battery District – Site C Submission | Video
May 25, 2022
- May 2022 Agenda
- May 2022 Staff Memo
- May 2022 Meeting Notes
- 4405 East-West Highway Submission | Video
- 7340 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
April 27,2022
- April 2022 Agenda
- April 2022 Staff Memo
- April 2022 Meeting Notes
- 7126 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
- The Claiborne Staff Discussion Video
February 23, 2022
- February 2022 Agenda
- February 2022 Staff Memo
- February 2022 Meeting Notes
- 4901 Battery Lane Submission – Update | Video
- November 2021 Agenda
- November 2021 Staff Memo
- November 2021 Meeting Notes
- 8001 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
October 27, 2021
- October 2021 Agenda
- October 2021 Staff Memo
- October 2021 Meeting Notes
- 4725 Cheltenham Drive Submission | Video
September 22, 2021
- September 2021 Agenda
- September 2021 Staff Memo
- September 2021 Meeting Notes
- 4725 Cheltenham Drive Submission | Video
- 4901 Battery Lane Submission | Video
July 28, 2021
- July 2021 Agenda
- July 2021 Staff Memo
- July 2021 Meeting Notes
- 7126 Wisconsin Avenue Submission | Video
March 24, 2021
- March 2021 Agenda
- March 2021 Staff Memo
- March 2021 Meeting Notes
- Hampden East Submission | Video
- The Avondale Submission | Video
February 24, 2021
- February 2021 Agenda
- February 2021 Staff Memo
- February 2021 Meeting Notes
- 7070 Arlington Road Submission | Video
January 27, 2021
- January 2021 Agenda
- January 2021 Meeting Notes
- January 2021 Staff Memo
- Welcome Newest Panel Member: Video
- The Avondale: Submission | Video
- September 2020 Agenda
- September 2020 Staff Memo
- September 2020 Meeting Notes
- 4702 Chevy Chase Drive: Submission | Video
- Updates to DAP Procedures for Reconsideration: Video
- Remembrance of Karl F.G. Du Puy: Video
July 22, 2020
- July 2020 Agenda
- July 2020 Staff Memo
- July 2020 Meeting Notes
- 4702 Chevy Chase Drive Submission: Submission | Video
- The Avondale: Submission | Updated Submission | Video
- Discussion Item: DAP Procedures for Requests for Reconsideration: Video
June 24, 2020
- June 2020 Agenda
- June 2020 Meeting Notes
- Hampden East Submission | Video
- The Avondale Submission | Video
- 4824 Edgemoor Lane: Submission | Video
May 27, 2020
- Join Virtual Meeting
- May 2020 Agenda
- May 2020 Meeting Notes
- 4725 Cheltenham Drive Design Advisory Panel Submission
February 26, 2020
- February 2020 Agenda
- February 2020 Meeting Notes
- 4725 Cheltenham Drive Design Advisory Panel Submission
January 22, 2020
- January 2020 Agenda
- January 2020 Meeting Notes
- Design Advisory Panel Breakfast Reception
- November 2019 Agenda
- November 2019 Meeting Notes
- 4702 West Virginia Design Advisory Panel Submission
October 23, 2019
- October 2019 Agenda
- October 2019 Meeting Notes
- St. Elmo Apartments Site Plan Amendment Design Advisory Panel_Submission
September 25, 2019
- September 2019 Agenda
- September 2019 Meeting Notes
- 7800 Wisconsin Avenue_Design_Advisory_Panel_Submission
May 22, 2019
- May 2019 Agenda
- May 2019 Meeting Notes
- 8015 Old Georgetown Road_Design Advisory Panel Submission_Sketch Plan
April 24, 2019
March 27, 2019
- March 2019 Agenda
- March 2019 Meeting Notes
- Battery Lane District_1_Overview
- Battery Lane District_2_Public Realm
- Battery Lane District_3_4857 Battery Lane
- Battery Lane District_4_4858 Battery Lane
- Battery Lane District_5_4900 Battery Lane
- Battery Lane District_6_4949 Battery Lane
- Battery Lane District_7_4998 Battery Lane
- Battery Lane District_8_Additional Submission Files
- Battery Lane Meeting Part 1:
Battery Lane Meeting Part 2:
Battery Lane Meeting Part 3:
January 7, 2019
- November 2018 Agenda
- November 2018 Meeting Notes
- 8000 Wisconsin Avenue_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Metro Tower_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7800 Wisconsin Avenue_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 8000 Wisconsin Ave Review Recording
October 24, 2018
- October 2018 Agenda
- October 2018 Meeting Notes
- Claiborne_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Bethesda Market_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Claiborne Review Audio Recording:
September 26, 2018
- September 2018 Agenda
- September 2018 Approved Meeting Minutes
- 8280 Wisconsin_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7607 Old Georgetown_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- St. Elmo_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 8280 Wisconsin Avenue Review Audio Recording (incomplete recording)
- St. Elmo Apartments Review Audio Recording
- Note: The audio recordings for 8280 Wisconsin Avenue and 7607 Old Georgetown Road are incomplete due to technical difficulties. Please refer to the approved meeting minutes.
July 25, 2018
- July 2018 Agenda
- July 2018 Meeting Notes
- Claiborne_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 4915 Auburn Avenue_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Claiborne Review Audio Recording:
June 27, 2018
- June 2018 Agenda
- June 2018 Meeting Notes
- Edgemont Bethesda II_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 8000 Wisconsin Avenue_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 4 Bethesda Metro Center_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Edgemont Bethesda II Review Audio Recording:
May 23, 2018
- May 2018 Agenda
- May 2018 Meeting Notes
- 8280 Wisconsin_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7121 Wisconsin_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7121 Wisconsin_Elevations
- 7126 Wisconsin_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7126 Wisconsin_Elevations_rvsd
- Rules of Procedure Minutes
- 8280 Wisconsin Avenue Review Audio Recording:
April 25, 2018
- April 25 2018 Agenda
- April 25 2018 Meeting Notes
- ZOM_ Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 4 Bethesda Metro Center_ Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Panel Lunch Discussion Minutes
- ZOM Bethesda Review Audio Recording:
April 4, 2018 (note: this meeting was rescheduled from March 21 due to weather)
- April 4 2018 Agenda
- April 4 2018 Meeting Notes
- St. Elmo_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7607 Old Georgetown Road_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7607 Old Georgetown Road_rvsd pages
- 8000 Wisconsin Avenue _Design Advisory Panel Submission rvsd
- St. Elmo Apartments Review Audio Recording:
February 28, 2018
- February 2018 Agenda
- February 2018 Meeting Notes
- 8000 Wisconsin Avenue_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 8000 Wisconsin Avenue Review Audio Recording:
- December 2017 Agenda
- December 2017 Meeting Notes
- Avocet Tower_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 7820 Wisconsin_7815 Woodmont_Design Advisory Panel submission
- Bethesda Gateway_Pre-Concept Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Agenda Item 1 and Avocet Tower Review Audio Recording:
November 29, 2017
- November 29 2017 Agenda
- November 29 2017 Approved Meeting Minutes
- Edgemont Bethesda II_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- 4540 Montgomery Ave_Design Advisory Panel Submission
November 8, 2017
- November 8 2017 Agenda
- November 8 2017 Meeting Notes
- ZOM_ Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Marriott_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- Artery Plaza_Design Advisory Panel Submission
- ZOM Review Audio Recording:
Design Advisory Panel Contact
Cashielle Nelson
301-495-2109
Email