Residents, business owners invited to four-day planning process Feb.3-6
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department will be hosting a planning and design workshop to capture ideas for transforming the heart of Sandy Spring, Md., and all residents and business owners are invited to attend the entire four-day workshop or any portion. The four-day visioning workshop starts the evening of Monday, Feb. 3 and continues through Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Sandy Spring Museum (17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring) and will provide guidance for determining the details of the village center concept.
The results of the workshop will inform the Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan that was called for in the 1998 Master Plan, and it will seek to determine how best to integrate the new fire station into the village center concept.
“The workshop process will allow anyone with an interest in Sandy Spring to be involved from the very beginning,” said John Carter, Planning Area 3 Chief, “and this process is happening to preserve the rich cultural history of the area while at the same time giving the community a village center.”
Details:
What: Free four-day planning and design workshop hosted by the Montgomery Planning Department
Who: Residents, property owners, and anyone with an interest in the future of Sandy Spring
When: Monday, Feb. 3 through Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014
Where: Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring
Schedule:
Monday, February 3, 2014
7- 9 p.m. – Presentation, Overview, and Visioning Session (Dr. Bird Room)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
10:00 a.m. – Noon: Visioning Exercise (Library)
1-5 p.m. – Visioning Session Continued; Land Use and Zoning Workshop (Dr. Bird Room)
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
10 a.m. to Noon: Land Use and Zoning (Library)
1-5 p.m. – Roadway Design, Connections and Open Space (Library)
Thursday, February 6, 2014
10 a.m. – Noon: Roadway Design, Connections, and Open Space (Library)
1-5 p.m. – Refine Plan Recommendations (Library)
7-9 p.m. – Final Presentation and Workshop Conclusion (Dr. Bird Room)
Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan Highlights:
In the spring of 2013, the Montgomery County Council approved a plan for the Sandy Spring Rural Village. The 1998 Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan recognized that the details of the village center concept were beyond its scope, and recommended more detailed study and analysis to develop the concept. This Plan will follow the guidance in the 1998 Master Plan and determine how to best connect the new fire station into a village center concept, design a village green, and determine the feasibility of realigning Brooke Road using the following three goals:
- Preserve the rich cultural history of the area
- Design a civic space and village center
- Connect the community to the village center and examine right-of-way issues
The Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan will also examine land use and potential zoning changes. The Plan will not undergo a large-scale transportation modeling process, but it will examine traffic studies along MD 108 and intersection data.
Learn more about the Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan and how to get involved: http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/sandyspring/
About The Montgomery County Planning Department:
The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, aims to improve quality of life by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for current and future generations. The Planning Department creates great communities by developing master plans, reviewing applications for development and analyzing various types of information to help public officials plan for Montgomery County’s future. The Department is comprised of 140 staff members and provides recommendations, information, analysis and services to the Montgomery County Planning Board, the County Council, the County Executive, other government agencies and the general public. Visit www.montgomeryplanning.org
Contact:
Bridget Schwiesow
Communication Manager
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Department of Planning
Bridget.Schwiesow@montgomeryplanning.org or 301.641.0457