Germantown Employment Area Study 

The Germantown Employment Area Study will review and assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges Germantown faces and work with community members to understand what interventions could better guide the plan area’s future. The study will also consider whether employment growth should be a major part of the plan area’s future and if a sector plan amendment might be needed in the future. 

The 2009 Germantown Employment Area Sector Plan, established a vision to transform Germantown’s central employment corridor into a vibrant town center and mixed-use districts, but the plan area has not grown as expected in the years since. Some parts of the Sector Plan area have realized that vision, while others have yet to develop accordingly and have seen densities, occupancies, and public improvements fall short of their potential. The plan’s anticipated residential and employment growth has not kept pace with projections, and the area has been slow to transition its suburban-style commercial areas—with low-rise buildings and large areas of surface parking—into compact, walkable places, especially in the desirable Town Center Core, Cloverleaf, and North End districts. 

Scope of Work

Montgomery Planning staff presented the Scope of Work to the Planning Board on February 8, 2024.

Why Now?

The timing of the study is related to a change in approach for the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), a previously planned transportation facility, as well as the need to respond to continued trends in the county’s high vacancy office market, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, and a desire to enhance Germantown’s town center and economic activity. 

Process

Montgomery Planning begins a study by collecting information about the people who live and work in the area and information about the area itself—its homes and businesses, its growth patterns and environmental needs, and its economic and physical relationships to the surrounding county. Through interactive questionnaires, meetings, and events with community organizations, local business owners, government entities, and other stakeholders, we determine what the future of the area may look like and how we can best enable a version that is equitable, viable, and carries forward what people love about their community as-is. This study is expected to be completed within one calendar year, by the end of 2024.  

Community Engagement

Living, working, and visiting the area means that you have insights into what is wonderful in the community and what needs improvement! Your opinion is a vital part of the master planning process, ensuring that this study reflects the community’s values and shared vision. Throughout the engagement process, our team will be learning about the various groups and individuals that make up the Germantown community, and we will explore how to best highlight and reflect your interests through urban design, architecture, and open space planning. Understanding this sense of place will be essential to ensuring a bright future. The planning team will consider community feedback and ideas to inform study’s findings.

Timeline