Wheaton sits at the crossroads of Georgia Avenue, University Boulevard, and Veirs Mill Road—a vibrant, diverse community of nearly 36,000 residents with locally owned restaurants, shops, and businesses that reflect its unique character. Recent initiatives, including the 2012 Wheaton Central Business District and Vicinity Sector Plan, the 2023 Wheaton Downtown Study, and 2023 Streetscape Standards, and the 2025 Wheels in Wheaton Placemaking project, have shaped a vision for the future founded in community participation.
The Wheaton Plan builds on this momentum to better connect Wheaton multimodally, economically, and culturally to deliver lasting solutions to create a thriving activity center and a key link to nearby communities like Silver Spring, Glenmont, Kensington, and Rockville.
Guided by Thrive Montgomery 2050, the plan will explore new housing types to support incremental growth, enhance transportation choices, and sustain Wheaton’s unique small business community. Montgomery Planning is committed to working with residents to create a safe, resilient, and vibrant Wheaton.
Current phase: Visioning
We want to hear from you! Now is the best time to get involved in the Planning process. Now through the Summer of 2027, the planning team will be working with community members to create a shared vision for Wheaton’s future. Throughout the visioning process, planners will hold conversations with the community, partner agencies, and organizations while also analyzing existing conditions. As the process moves forward, we’ll use what we’ve heard—along with what we’ve learned through data collection and analysis—to develop emerging ideas in early 2027, leading to draft recommendations that fall.
Planners will engage with community members by attending local events, partnering with organizations, and hosting conversations and activities. These efforts will create more opportunities to learn about the plan and share your ideas. To stay informed, sign up for the e‑letter and visit this webpage for updates.
Plan goals
The Goals will be refined during the community visioning phase of the Plan. Goals include:
- Advancing Wheaton’s potential by identifying actionable strategies and recommendations for multimodal transportation, environmental resilience, housing affordability, and economic competitiveness
- Responding to community calls for improved walkability, safety, and connectivity
- Supporting and enhancing Wheaton’s unique identity and sense of place
Plan boundary
All Master Plans, including The Wheaton Plan, have a “Plan Area” map approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. This defined geographic area is where The Wheaton Plan will consider new zoning and other changes for properties and streets. On May 7, 2026, the Planning Board approved the Plan Area outlined on this map. Through the community engagement process, planners will talk with people who live both within and outside the Plan Area to inform recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Wheaton is ready for its next chapter. Despite strong assets, like a Metrorail station, civic institutions, and diverse businesses, development has lagged behind expectations, and economic challenges persist, including disparities in income, education, and housing affordability. Since the last plan in 2012, much has changed—and more is coming in the next 20 years: climate impacts, market shifts, affordability pressures, and technological advances.
The Wheaton Plan responds to these realities and community priorities for walkability, safety, and connectivity. This is an opportunity to realize Wheaton’s full potential, leveraging public investment and zoning to deliver new housing, infrastructure upgrades, and support for small businesses.
Plan recommendations are developed by planning staff based on community input, data analyses, guiding county documents and legislation, and planning best practices.
Master plans are legal documents that guide how public and private investment happens in the Plan Area. Their recommendations are carried out over time through public projects and private development. These recommendations help shape how growth, development, and change occur.
Timeline
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Winter 2025Pre-planning
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Winter 2026Plan kickoff
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Spring 2026Scope of Work and plan boundary approved by Planning Board
View the May 7 staff report | Vea el Informe del personal del 7 de mayo -
Summer 2026-Summer 2027
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Fall 2026-Winter 2027Existing conditions analysis
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Summer 2027Share draft recommendations with community and Planning Board
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Fall 2027Working Draft presented to Planning Board
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Winter-Summer 2028Planning Board public hearing, work sessions and draft
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Fall 2028-Winter 2028County Executive review, Council public hearing, work sessions and approval