Community invited to brainstorm, collaborate with planners November 10-18 to capture best ideas for sector plan area
SILVER SPRING, MD – On November 10, 2014, the Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will launch a weeklong charrette – a series of intensive workshops –to gather ideas and craft a concept framework plan for the Westbard Sector Plan. Residents, property and business owners, and interested citizens are invited to participate in these meetings to offer their ideas about the area.
A full schedule of all the workshops and presentations is posted online at www.montgomeryplanning.org/planwestbard.
The community charrette will start on Monday, November 10, with walking tours of Westbard to familiarize participants with the area. The tours will be conducted at 10 a.m. and noon, starting at Westwood II Mall (5110 Ridgefield Rd, Bethesda, MD).
A workshop will also be held on Monday, starting at 9 a.m. at Westwood II and continuing until 5 p.m. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and discuss concepts during these hours. No charrette activities will take place on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
On Wednesday, November 12, and Thursday, November 13, business owners and residents are invited to attend the “Sunrise Series” meetings being held from 7-8:30 a.m. at Westwood II. The community workshops will commence on those days and on Friday, November 14, at 9 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m.
Evening presentations will be held during the week at Walt Whitman High School cafeteria (7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda, MD) from 6-9 p.m. The summary of the charrette and its influence on the Concept Plan will be presented on Tuesday, November 18 at Westland Middle School (5511 Massachusetts Ave, Bethesda, MD) from 7-9 p.m.
What is a charrette?
char·rette (SH??ret/)Noun. A meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions together. The idea comes from the School of Fine Arts (École des Beaux Arts) in Paris where students would put their final drawings on a cart (charrette) to turn in for grading by a professor. Students would sometimes hop on the cart to finish their drawings.
The charrette will offer residents and stakeholders an opportunity to drop in and work one-on-one with the staff who will capture the ideas, visions and goals of the Westbard community.
Residents, business owners and property owners are invited to drop-in and meet with planners and representatives from other agencies during the daytime hours. The Sunrise Series was designed to serve those who have to be at work during the hours of 9 – 5. RSVP’s are encouraged but not required: www.montgomeryplanning.org/planwestbard.
Charrette Schedule At A Glance:
Monday, November 10 –Walking tours will be conducted in the community at 10 a.m. and noon starting at Westwood II. The Charrette Drop-In hours will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. The evening Visioning Session will be at Walt Whitman High School from 6-9 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11 – Observance of Veterans Day (no charrette activities).
Wednesday, November 12– A “Sunrise Series” meeting will be held for business owners and residents from 7-8:30 a.m. at Westwood II. Charrette Drop-In hours will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Westwood II. The Framework Concept will be presented at Walt Whitman High School from 6-9 p.m.
Thursday, November 13– A “Sunrise Series” meeting will be held for all stakeholders from 7-8:30 a.m. at Westwood II. Charrette Drop-In hours will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Westwood II. The community will be asked to give feedback on the preferred options for the Framework Concept at Walt Whitman High School from 6-9 p.m.
Friday, November 14– The community is invited to drop in at Westwood II during the day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to talk with Montgomery Planning Department staff as they refine the concept plan.
Monday, November 17– Planners will be working on the results of the charrette in preparation for Tuesday’s evening presentation of the completed Concept Plan (no Charrette Drop-in hours).
Tuesday, November 18– Planners will summarize the results of the charrette and its influence on the plan at Westland Middle School from 7-9 p.m.
Register for the PlanWestbard Community Charrette activities.
About the Westbard Sector Plan
The existing Westbard Sector Plan is one of the oldest plans still in use in Montgomery County, having last been revised in 1982. It is now being updated at the direction of the Montgomery County Council to keep pace with the times and changes in the area.
Before attending the charrette, the community is invited to review the Westbard Sector Plan Briefing Book summarizing the existing conditions of the Sector Plan area. This book is intended to be used as a reference for the community throughout the planning process.
Stay Connected:
Sign up: for the PlanWestbard-E-Newsletter
Call: the PlanWestbard Hotline for updates on upcoming planning events: 301-495-4567
Follow: updates on Twitter: @planwestbard
Learn More: www.montgomeryplanning.org/planwestbard
Use: #PlanWestbard
Learn more about the Westbard Sector Plan and how to get involved: www.montgomeryplanning.org/planwestbard
Westbard Background:
Westbard lies in the southwestern part of Montgomery County, approximately one mile from the DC boundary line. It is less than two miles from the commercial areas of Friendship Heights and Bethesda. The Westbard area is served by two major northwest to southeast highways: River Road and Massachusetts Avenue and is surrounded by well-established single-family neighborhoods. Over a period of years, the residential uses were built around the commercial/industrial areas, which extend along River Road and Westbard Avenue. The popular regional Capital Crescent Trail runs the length of Westbard.