Residents invited to get involved with special events and community meetings to discuss plans and regulations for the County’s future
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is pleased to announce a very exciting events calendar for January 2015. From a special speakers series to community meetings, there are many ways to engage with the planners and Board members, and get involved with the future of Montgomery County. Review the full list of events below and go online to www.montgomeryplanning.org for more details on projects and plans.
Montgomery Planning January 2015 Events:
January 8: Attend, watch or listen live to the Montgomery County Planning Board Meeting. View the full agenda.
January 12: The second MV Matters community meeting will be held to discuss the Montgomery Village Master Plan from 7-9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithersburg, MD). Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the future of the Montgomery Village community is invited to attend this MVMatters meeting where planners will provide information on the next steps of the planning process and explain how “what matters to MV” will be used in the master plan.
January 14: The public is invited to the third session in the Planning Department’s Winter Speakers Series, held 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 free panel discussion, “Trials and Errors of Corridor Cities Planning,” focuses on the planning politics and development in the Rockville-Gaithersburg area, Germantown and Clarksburg.
January 15: Attend, watch or listen live the Montgomery County Planning Board Meeting. Agendas, which are posted two weeks in advance, can be viewed on the Agendas & Staff Reports page.
January 19: The Planning Department will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
January 20: The Montgomery County Council will take testimony on the Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan at its public hearing at 7:30 p.m. This Plan reinforces Sandy Spring’s rural and historic character, introduces a mix of land uses, improves connections in the community, and makes recommendations for new, quality open space.
January 21: Attend the community meeting at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md.) from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the draft of the new Subdivision Regulations. The first comprehensive rewrite in 50 years, these regulations clarify and streamline the review and approvals process for subdividing property, as well as requirements for adequate public facilities and improvements to lots based on the impact of the subdivision.
January 21: Planners will present their concepts for the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center (2450 Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring, MD) from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Results of a recent economic development study of the area, completed by the Washington, DC-based consultant Bolan Smart, will also be discussed. This meeting is a chance for the public to weigh in on the concept framework recommendations before they are presented for approval to the Montgomery County Planning Board in March 2015.
January 22: Planners will discuss the Bethesda Downtown Plan at an informal happy hour from 4-7:30 p.m. that is sponsored by SK&I Architectural Design Group (4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD).
January 22: Attend, watch or listen live the Montgomery County Planning Board Meeting. Agendas, which are posted two weeks in advance, can be viewed on the Agendas & Staff Reports page.
January 26: The third MV Matters community meeting to discuss the Montgomery Village Master Plan will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithersburg, MD). Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the future of the Montgomery Village community is invited to attend this MVMatters meeting where planners will provide information on the next steps of the planning process and explain how “what matters to MV” will be used in the master plan.
January 27-29: National urban design and planning expert Noré Winter will consult with the Planning Department on developing new design guidelines for master plans. During his visit, Winter will make a public presentation about the value of design guidelines for communities.
January 27: The community is invited to attend the public presentation and discussion on the creation and implementation of effective Design Guidelines at an evening event on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Center (1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, Md.). The event will consist of a lecture given by Noré Winter and a discussion with developers, planners, architects and the community about how to improve the County’s master plan design guidelines.
RSVP for the lecture and discussion on Tuesday, January 27 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 29: A public meeting will be hosted by the Bethesda Downtown Plan team from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814). At that event, planning staff will present the concepts and feedback from the Planning Board meeting on December 11, 2014 and answer questions from the audience.
January 29: Attend, watch or listen live the Montgomery County Planning Board Meeting. Agendas, which are posted two weeks in advance, can be viewed on the Agendas & Staff Reports page.