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Growing Right
Produced in partnership with County Cable Montgomery and hosted by Susan Kenedy, Growing Right highlights the Montgomery County Board’s monthly activities, ranging from development applications to parks programs to county-wide planning initiatives. The show covers the most important Planning Board decisions of the month in a lively format that includes interviews with board members and planners as well as onsite location shots.
Also see us on our other educational programs, Montgomery Plans and the Parks Show.
Latest Episode
February 2010
The Planning Board held a work session on the draft Water Resources Plan.Watch. Highlights include:
- An update on the Zoning Code rewrite, which will play a role in bringing quality development by encouraging green buildings, compact development and better public amenities
- Plans for a unique book that will showcase the Kensington photo contest, run last fall by the Planning Department and the Town of Kensington to encourage residents to show what they liked best about their community as part of the latest sector plan.
- Work sessions on the county’s Water Resources Plan, which examines land use, growth and stormwater management as it relates to drinking water, wastewater treatment capacity and regulatory requirements.
Previous Episodes
January 2010
Watch. Highlights include:
- The Planning Board approves the scope of work for the Long Branch Sector Plan
- Plans to build a town center in the town of Clarksburg inch closer to reality
- Planners present a new online, interactive map to inform the public about how to respect forest conservation easements
November/December 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- A proposal to streamline the development process to make it less complicated for residents and developers but not sacrifice the quality of reviews
- Revisions to the Master Plan of Highways, which will address inconsistencies between road policies
- The Planning Board approves a proposal that will bring a new, mixed use LEED-certified building to Georgia Avenue
October 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- The board presents its semi-annual report to the County Council
- A proposal to tighten up enforcement regulations moves ahead
- The Planning Board welcomes Commissioner Marye Wells-Harley
September 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- A recap of the Planning Board's recommendations for the 2009-2011 Growth Policy, transmitted to the County Council in July
- Three new sites recommended for historic designation – Greenwich Forest, the Bureau of Animal Industry (also known as the Norwood Recreation Building) and Higgins Cemetery
- The whys and wherefores of the Planning Department's new Leaves for Neighborhoods tree coupon program
July 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- The month was the busiest on record for the Planning Board, which wrapped up five major initiatives -- the growth policy, housing plan, the master plans for White Flint and Gaithersburg West and a new commercial residential zone -- and sent them on to the County Council.
- In light of environmental concerns, the Planning Board agreed with planner recommendations to revise part of the 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan to address ways to protect the Ten Mile Creek watershed.
- The popular Sligo Creek Golf Course will officially be turned over to the Department of Parks on October 1 after having been run by the county Revenue Authority for 3 years. The planning board held a session to contemplate what the future could hold for the 65-acre park site.
June 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- The Planning Board considers a new sector plan for the Town of Kensington, one of the county’s most historic areas
- The annual school capacity test puts residential subdivision applications near three school clusters in moratorium
- The board considers creating a new group of mixed-use development zones
May 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- A zoning change requested by developers of Fairland, a new residential development proposed for Eastern Montgomery County, gets the go-ahead from the Planning Board
- Transportation planners present their annual highway mobility report tracking how well residents get around in the county
- The Planning Department begins work on a design challenge that could shape the future of growth nationwide
April 2009
Watch. Highlights include:
- The Planning Board began considering the Gaithersburg West Master Plan, which updates the vision for the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center.
- Montgomery County’s growth policy, which is developed biannually by the Planning Board, guides growth…primarily uncroweded schools and traffic free roads. Planners are drafting the next growth policy to focus on enhancing the quality of our communities.
- The Department of Parks takes steps to reduce energy use and save county dollars.
March 2009
Holy Cross Hospital has applied for a zoning special exception to expand in Silver Spring.Watch. Highlights include:
- The Board considers an innovative plan that examines our future housing needs.
- A proposed zoning change that would allow expansion at Holy Cross Hospital gets an initial endorsement.
- The Board approves a much-needed facelift for a prime piece of real estate in downtown Silver Spring.
February 2009
Carl Elefante's "Greening Existing Properties" presentation.Watch. Highlights include:
- Continued work on the draft White Flint Sector Plan, now in worksessions before the Planning Board.
- The Planning Board kicks off a new speaker series that focuses on sustainable development.
- Commissioner John Robinson discusses the board's accomplishments during his tenure as he finishes up his final term.
January 2009
Pedestrians cross Georgia AvenueWatch. Highlights include:
- The Planning Board votes for a light rail system for the proposed Purple Line.
- A new planning study takes a look at the future of one of the county's busiest corridors, Georgia Avenue.
- The Planning Board approves the second phase of development for Woodstock Equestrian Park.
December 2008
Robert KronenbergDevelopment Review planner
Watch. Highlights include:
- Approval of a series of development applications for the Clarksburg Town Center, bringing the mixed retail and residential area a step closer to becoming a reality.
- Planning Board action to send preliminary design and a budget request for a new headquarters for the Montgomery County staff of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Called silver place, the site will feature mixed office and housing.
- Board approval of a site plan for Washington Adventist Hospital that paves the way for the hospital to relocate from Takoma Park to northern Silver Spring
November 2008
Katherine NelsonEnvironmental planner
Watch. Highlights include:
- Royce Hanson, chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board, and planner Elza Hissel-McCoy discussing the developments of a new 13-story mixed-use building at 8711 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring that will highlight pedestrian safety.
- Planner Kathryn Nelson and forest ecologist, Carole Bergmann explaining the re-forestation efforts around Rock Creek, near Jones Mill Road and Beach Drive.
- Mary Bradford, director of Montgomery County Parks, and Kate Stookey, Montgomery County’s Parks information chief, talking about the slight hike in fees for athletic fields to offset the fields’ maintenance costs.
October 2008
Rose KrasnowDevelopment Review chief
Watch. Highlights include:
- Royce Hanson, chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board, and Rose Krasnow, Development Review Chief for the Planning Department, talk about the Board approving the plans to expand Bethesda's Suburban Hospital near Lincoln Street.
- Planning director, Rollin Stanley, and Germantown planner, Sue Edwards weigh in on the latest developments in the Germantown Master Plan.
- Transportation planner, Dan Hardy, Diane Jones, assistant CAO and executive officer, and consultant Christopher Conklin discuss road code revisions and planners decisions to not increase target speeds on county-owned roads.
Date of last update: February 22, 2010
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission