Community testimony focused on proposed changes to zoning and their effect on density, school capacity and traffic congestion
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, held a public hearing for the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan at its headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) on Thursday, February 11, 2016.
Community residents and property owners testified primarily about proposed zoning changes in the Plan and their potential effect on density, school capacity and transportation issues.
The Public Hearing Draft is available for review on the Planning Department’s website. This posting occurred after the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Working Draft as the Public Hearing Draft on Thursday, December 17, 2015.
The Public Hearing Draft reflects changes that were made in response to clarifications requested by the Greater Lyttonsville community regarding issues such as the urban road code, district boundaries and language in the Plan Draft.
View the Public Hearing Draft of the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan.
View the Staff Report for the December 17 Planning Board presentation, including an errata sheet.
Plan Work Sessions and Council Action
The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold work sessions on the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan starting in March 2016. The sessions will continue as needed for the Board to fully discuss the community testimony as well as issues Board members want to address.
At the conclusion of the work sessions, the Plan will be revised at the Planning Board’s direction before being transmitted to the County Council and County Executive as the Planning Board Draft. The County Council will hold a public hearing on the Planning Board Draft of the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan later in 2016.
The community is invited to stay involved with the progress of the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan by:
-Visiting the Greater Lyttonsville Montgomery County Planning Department webpage.
-Listening or watching the staff presentation live or on-demand from the December 17, 2015 meeting or the February 11, 2016 public hearing.
Background on the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan
Spurred by the future construction of two Purple Line light rail stations in Greater Lyttonsville, the new Sector Plan examines ways to leverage these significant public infrastructure investments, while preserving the integrity of area neighborhoods that have a rich history and a strong sense of community. The Plan recommends ways of connecting residential, industrial and institutional districts, attracting mixed-use development and expanding parks, trails and open spaces. Recent planning efforts build on the goal of the 2000 North and West Silver Spring Master Plan to preserve this diverse community as a desirable place to live, work and play.
After community meetings were held in January and April 2015, the Planning team revised suggestions for bike and pedestrian connections in and around the Rosemary Hills Lyttonsville Local Park.
Recommendations in the Plan focus on:
-Providing pedestrian and bicycle connections to the two proposed Purple Line light rail stations.
-Preserving, rather than rezoning, a majority of the industrial areas.
-Preserving single-family residential areas.
-Proposing zoning changes primarily in areas around the future Purple Line stations or close to the Silver Spring central business district.
Learn more about the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan and how to get involved with shaping the future of this community.