Planners discuss the challenges associated with the growth of communities near Interstate 270, including Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg.
SILVER SPRING, MD –The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting the third session in its Winter Speakers Series on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md.). The series is called “A Once and Future County: Lessons on How Planning Politics Shaped Montgomery County” and is hosted by Royce Hanson, former chairman of the County’s Planning Board.
The January 14 session, “Trials and Errors of Corridor Cities Planning,” focuses on the planning politics and development in the Rockville-Gaithersburg area; the challenges of a new town in Germantown; and the planning and development of Clarksburg.
“Planning policy in Montgomery County directed growth to occur in four new cities built along the Interstate-270/MD 355 transportation corridor in order to preserve ‘wedges’ of low-density housing and open space,” says Hanson. “The next session will examine the past challenges of developing those new towns as well as current policies aimed at finishing the task of turning them into livable and pleasant communities.”
View the video from the December 10 Session 2 event focused on “Retrofitting the Suburbs.”
A question-and-answer session will conclude the panel discussion among the following experts:
Robert Brewer is a land use and zoning attorney at Lerch Early & Brewer in Bethesda. He specializes in orchestrating major development projects through applications, rezoning, special exceptions, site plans and subdivisions. Mr. Brewer has been heavily involved in key master planning projects within Montgomery County, representing developers working in White Flint, downtown Silver Spring, Germantown and other areas. He is an active leader in many of the county’s community and cultural organizations, including the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, Strathmore Hall Foundation and Bethesda Kiwanis Club.
Marlene Michaelson is a Senior Legislative Analyst with the Montgomery County Council, responsible for advising the Council on various land use plans and policies. She also oversees the work program and budget for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and its parks issues. For 26 years, Ms. Michaelson has been the lead staff person advising the Council on master plans, including those involving corridor cities. She has also represented the Council on a number of state and regional task forces and committees. Prior to working for the Council Ms. Michaelson managed a consulting practice related to the financing of alternative energy projects for a Washington D.C., law firm.
Jennifer Russel is a principal and a team leader of the Planning Studio for Rodgers Consulting, Inc. a planning and engineering firm in Germantown Maryland. With more than 30 years of experience in the public sector, Ms. Russel has overseen land use and development review and approvals, and master planning activities in Montgomery County. She is well versed in ordinance revision, plan review, Smart Growth policies and New Urbanism. As Director of Planning and Code Administration for the City of Gaithersburg for 26 years, she was instrumental in the review, development and approval of Kentlands, one of the nation’s first neo-traditional neighborhoods, as well as its neighboring community Lakelands.
The 90-minute “Trials and Errors of Corridor Cities Planning” event is free to the public and will be streamed online live. It will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Planning Department headquarters at 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Md.
The next session, “Creating and Sustaining the County’s Agricultural Reserve,” will trace the 30-year effort to protect the rural landscape and the working farms of upper Montgomery County. It will be held on February 11 at the same time and place as the January event.
Learn more about the Once and Future County Speakers Series.
Use hashtag: #onceandfuturecounty