SILVER
SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board has approved a draft plan
for Germantown that sets the stage for the community to become the center for
jobs and culture in the northern part of Montgomery County.
The
sector plan – approved Thursday and sent to the County Council for
consideration today – provides a guide for future development, including the
look, type and timing of development in Germantown’s employment area.
Planners
envision Germantown as an employment hub well-positioned to serve residents by
the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway, a light rail or rapid bus route to
connect Shady Grove Metro Station and Clarksburg with several stops in
Germantown. The plan would stimulate jobs by creating a vibrant atmosphere for
employers and residents through a mix of land uses, parks, green spaces,
historic sites and culture.
Located
in northern Montgomery County on both sides of I-270, Germantown has seen a
mini-housing boom since the late 1970s. Designated since the 1960s as one of
the county’s “corridor cities,” Germantown has been long envisioned to support a
core of businesses and public services. The new draft sector plan will update 2,600
acres of the Germantown planning area.
Planners
aim to balance residential growth with new employment and build upon a new
public library and cultural arts center with mixed housing, retail and public
space to drive a thriving town center. The key, they say, is to encourage
high-quality design in buildings, public spaces and communities.
The
plan recognizes Germantown’s historic district on the border of the area and also
looks to enhance Germantown’s environment by linking parks and stream valleys with
a mix of urban open spaces.
On
Thursday, the Planning Board praised its professional planning staff for a plan
they say provides clear direction on the future of growth in Germantown. The Planning
Board draft goes to the County Executive for fiscal review as well as the County
Council. The Council will set a public hearing, review and modify the plan and,
ultimately, approve it as a guide to private development and public policy.
Master plans look ahead 15 to 20 years in a comprehensive
guide to an area’s land use, zoning and environmental features, such as tree
cover, stormwater management and green space. They also examine transportation
issues such as roads, mass transit, bicycle trails and pedestrian mobility.
View the draft plan.