Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc.

MCCF LETTER ON PILOT AND ZTA 25-03

This April 4, 2025, letter asking Montgomery County Councilmembers to postpone voting on the current versions of PILOT and ZTA 25-03 until the suggested beneficial changes are incorporated.
VIEW LETTER

MCCF LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO HOUSING FOR JOBS ACT

This March 15, 2025, letter to Montgomery County Delegates and Senators expressing MCCF’s serious concerns about HB 503/SB 430, the Housing for Jobs Act.  MCCF urged them to amend the bill to add language that, among other things, would conform the Bill to Governor Moore’s stated intention — that nothing in the bill preempts or precludes a locality from following its own standards, regulations, or rules at the local level in acting on an application for development.
VIEW LETTER

MCCF LETTER PROTESTING CONFLICTING HEARINGS

This February 8, 2025, letter to County Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Artie Harris, Chair of the MoCo Planning Board, who had scheduled townhall meetings on the same day and time on two different plans that would impact communities along University Boulevard.
VIEW LETTER

LINKS TO MOCO COUNCIL LIST OF ZTAS

The County Council will hold public hearings on March 11, 2025, on proposed Zoning Text Amendments dealing with residential reconstruction, vacancy elimination, workforce housing, and affordable housing amendments.  See the link to their February 7, 2025, press release below, which contains links to each of these ZTAs.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE

MCCF LETTER ON MORE HOUSING N.O.W.

February 6, 2025, letter to Montgomery County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Natalie Fani-Gonzalez, Kate Stewart, and Will Jawando with our questions on the More Housing N.O.W. plan and asking for the hearing to be postponed.
VIEW LETTER

TESTIMONY ON BILL PG/MC 101-25

On December 9, 2024, MCCF President Cheryl Gannon testified in support of the bill that would limit requirements that the Montgomery County Planning Board stream live video or audio of its open meetings.
VIEW TESTIMONY VIEW BILL

AHSI RESOLUTION

On November 4, 2024, MCCF delegates and members adopted a resolution on the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative (AHSI) submitted to the County Council by the Montgomery County Planning Board.  The MCCF Resolution was sent to the Montgomery County Council on November 14, 2024.
VIEW RESOLUTION VIEW COVER LETTER

TESTIMONY ON G&I POLICY, BILL 16-24

September 6, 2024, testimony on 2024-2028 Growth/Infrastructure Policy and Bill 16-24, Impact Taxes-Revisions by Glenn Orlin (Bethesda, Md.) before the Montgomery County Council.
VIEW ?

MCCF APPLAUDS JAWANDO CALL TO PAUSE AHS PLAN

MCCF January 8, 2024, Press Statement affirming Councilmember Will Jawando’s call to pause the Attainable Housing Straegies Plan (AHS) now before the Montgomery County Council.  The Statement was sent to the County Council, Bethesda Today, and Maryland Matters.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE

MISSING MIDDLE PROPOSAL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

At the March 13, 2023, general MCCF meeting, the discussion included the Missing Middle issue and the idea of broadly allowing multifamily houses on each lot will solve the problem.  Michael O’Grady, a research development economist who has analyzed Arlington, Virginia’s efforts in this regard, made a presentation.  The concept is part of the New Urbanism (NU) which pushes cities to redevelop as vibrant, diverse complete communities.
VIEW POWERPOINT

MCCF RESOLUTION ON THRIVE MONTGOMERY 2050 AND UPZONING

At its September 12, 2022, meeting, the membership of the MCCF voted to approve this resolution calling for the current Montgomery County Council to disapprove the Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan and carry these deliberations over to the new County Council to be seated in December 2022, to include adequate safeguards, to extend the period for outreach to County residents, and remains opposed to universale upzoning of all single-family and duplexes by-right in zoning text amendments, among other things.
VIEW RESOLUTION

MCCF LETTER URGING FUNDING THE OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE’S COUNSEL

After the resolution approved (below) on May 9, President Alan Bowser sent a letter on behalf of MCCF on May 10 to the County Council urging their approval of funding for the Office of the People’s Counsel.
VIEW LETTER

MCCF RESOLUTION ON FUNDING THE OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE’S COUNSEL

At its May 9, 2022, meeting, the membership of the MCCF voted to approve this resolution strongly supporting proposed funding in the amount of $248,598 (or .0039% of the total recommended budget) for the Office of the People’s Counsel and calling on the Montgomery County Council to approve this funding.
VIEW RESOLUTION

MCCF REQUESTS COUNCIL RESTORE OPC FUNDING

MCCF is pleased that in his Fiscal Year 2023 Recommended Operating Budget, County Executive Elrich recommended restoring funding that the County Council previously cut to the Office of the People’s Counsel.  Now it will be up to the County Council to approve the restoration of funding for this important office.  The link to MCCF’s letter to the County Council is below.
The County Council will hold public hearings on the proposed FY 2023 Operating Budget on April 19-20, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. and on April 19-21, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.  Residents can sign up to testify by clicking the “sign up” button for public hearings on the Council’s calendar.  Individuals will receive a confirmation email with the appropriate instructions to participate in the meetings.
Comments and suggestions are also welcome online; via email at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov; by sending regular mail to County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850; or by calling the Council’s budget hotline at 240.777.7802.
VIEW LETTER

UPZONING OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE VIEW FROM MINNEAPOLIS

Alissa D. Luepke Pier, AIA, the Principal Architect at A.D.L. Pier Design, Inc., in Minneapolis, served on the Minneapolis City Planning Commission for 13 years, and was Vice-Chair for the last few of those years.  Her presentation on affordable housing, “missing middle” housing, and how policies now under consideration in Montgomery County played out in Minneapolis was a highlight of the October 2021 MCCF General Meeting.  You can see her slides and hear her presentation at the links below.
VIEW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
VIEW VIDEO OF PRESENTATION (YOUTUBE)

RESOLUTION ON UPZONING OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS

At its October 11, 2021, General Meeting, the Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc., passed a resolution regarding proposed rezoning of residential neighborhoods in Montgomery County.
VIEW RESOLUTION

MASTER AND SECTOR PLAN REVISIONS

View list of all existing Plans on the Montgomery County Planning Department website.
VIEW EXISTING PLANS

SWPN Comments on Thrive 2050

July 1, 2021, written comments from the Stormwater Partners Network of Montgomery County to the Montgomery County Council on the Thrive Montgomery 2050 General Plan.
VIEW LETTER

UPDATES ON THRIVE MONTGOMERY GENERAL PLAN | ZTA 19-07 ON SMALL CELL TOWERS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES

Below are links to two memos from the County Executive to the County Council regarding two countywide planning and zoning proposals that our members have been tracking.

■  The first memo from June 29, 2021, is regarding ZTA 19-07, Telecommunications Towers, Limited Use that would allow by right without notice or public hearing, “small cell” towers on any utility pole that is at least 30 feet from a dwelling.
CE 6/29/21 MEMO ON ZTA 19-07
The Council will be discussing and voting on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.  MCCF testimony can be found on our website:
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
We encourage members to write to the Council in support of the request for a stakeholder working group.
WRITE TO COUNTY COUNCIL
This is a complex issue with many parts and it’s important to get it right.  For those who have an interest in this issue, some of our members have created a petition site requesting a working group:
SEE PETITION SITE
■  The second memo from the County Executive of June 10, 2021, is concerning the “Thrive Montgomery 2050” Draft General Plan that is now before the County Council.  The County Executive has made some important points and we encourage members to write to the County Council with their concerns about the Plan.  The PHED Committee is scheduled to begin review next week. CE 6/10/21 MEMO ON THRIVE MOCO 2050

UPDATE TO DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE

As of May 2021, approved projects by the Planning Board:  31,018 approved unbuilt residential units and 22,210,729 square feet of approved unbuilt commercial (office, retail) space.
SEE MOCO DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE WEBPAGE
READ OLDER DETAILS

ATTAINABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES

A PowerPoint on Affordable Housing was presented at the April 2021 MCCF meeting on “Missing Middle Housing” by Montgomery County Planning staff Lisa Govoni (Housing Planner) and Jason Sartori (chief of Countywide Planning and Policy).
VIEW PRESENTATION

PLANNING DEPARTMENT 30-YEAR GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, ‘THRIVE MONTGOMERY 2050’

■  On 11/19/20, MCCF presented oral testimony on revisions to the County General Plan.  The statement before the Montgomery County Planning Board was made by then-MCCF President Alan Bowser.
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
■  Planning Staff agreed to provide written answers to questions that were not able to be asked at the 10/12/20 meeting due to time constraints:
VIEW FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FROM MEETING
■  Montgomery Planning staff made an 18-slide PowerPoint presentation at the 10/12/20 MCCF meeting on its Thrive Montgomery 2050 Public Hearing Draft Plan:
VIEW STAFF PRESENTATION
■  An MCCF resolution on Montgomery County’s General Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, was adopted at its 09/14/20 General Meeting #915 of the MCCF:
VIEW MCCF RESOLUTION
■  On 12/12/19, the Planning Department released its ‘Meeting in a Box’ Tool is designed for use by civic and neighborhood associations and community groups to share their ideas for the future of Montgomery County:
VIEW MEETING IN A BOX
■  On 12/12/19, the Planning Department issued a staff memo on its Draft Framework and Issues for General Plan Update:
VIEW DRAFT FRAMEWORK
■  On 10/14/19, the Planning Department made a presentation to the MCCF:
VIEW PRESENTATION

2020 UPDATE TO COUNTY’S SUBDIVISION STAGING (GROWTH) POLICY

■  On 09/20, the MCCF President presented testimony on the proposed 2020-2024 Subdivision Staging Policy, which also covered two bills on taxation:  (1) Bill 38-20, Development Impact Tax – Transportation and Public School Improvements; and (2) Expedited Bill 39-20, Recordation Tax – Amendments:
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
VIEW MCCF 12/2019 ARTICLE
■  On 12/9/19, the Planning Department made a SSP Presentation to MCCF:
VIEW PLANNING DEPT. PRESENTATION
■  On 12/9/19, MCCF’s Brian Krantz made a presentation on a community generated ‘CIP Super Tool’ on MCPS enrollment projections he created:
VIEW KRANTZ PRESENTATION
VIEW MCPS CIP SUPER TOOL

2019 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT TAXES, EXEMPTIONS, WAIVERS

■  A 12/9/19 Presentation includes Impact Tax Rates and Exemption Categories:
VIEW PRESENTATION
■  A 3/20/19 Memo shows in 2018 Mont. County collected $37 million in development impact taxes, waived $64 million in development impact taxes, and projects another $47 million to be waived for projects in the pipeline for a total of $111 million in waivers in 2018–2019
VIEW MEMO

ZTAS FOR CELL TOWERS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES

■  MCCF testified in a public hearing before the Montgomery County Council on November 19, 2019, on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07, “Telecommunications Towers, Limited Use.”  This is MCCF’s fourth time before the Council on this issue (see others below) and we continue to oppose the ZTA’s reduction of due process for residents.
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
■  COUNTY ZTA 18-11 to allow cell towers in residential zones with reduced setbacks and no public hearings.  September 25, 2018, 7:30 p.m., Council hearing.
VIEW 7/20/18 MEMO INTRODUCING ZTA 18-11
■  September 2018 MCCF Planning and Land Use Committee Recommended Proposal for Small Cells:
VIEW RECOMMENDED PROPOSAL
■  Below are the presentations from our June 12, 2017, meeting on Zoning Text Amendments for cell towers in residential zones within Montgomery County:
—  Mitsuko R. Herrera, Director, ultraMontgomery Program, Dept. of Technology Services, Montgomery County, Md.:
VIEW HERRERA PRESENTATION
—  Theodora Scarato, Director of Educational Programs and Resources, Environmental Health Trust:
VIEW SCARATO PRESENTATION
—  Sue Present, a County resident, wrote a four-part series in the January–April issues of the MCCF newsletter regarding the regulatory review of cell tower applications in Montgomery County:
READ SUE PRESENT CFN ARTICLE SERIES
SUGGESTED CHANGES TO LATEST PROPOSED ZTA
The County will hold two more public meetings on their proposed changes before sending the new proposed ZTA to the County Council for a public hearing.  Community meetings are planned for Monday, September 18, 2017, at the Silver Spring Civic Center and Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at the Montgomery County Germantown Campus.
VIEW NEW PROPOSED DRAFT ZTA
VIEW SUMMARY OF NEW DRAFT
VIEW COUNTY WEBPAGE FOR COMMENTS
VIEW COUNTY TOWER COMMITTEE WEBPAGE

ABOLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE’S COUNSEL

MCCF opposes Bill 41-16, “Community Zoning and Land Use Resource Officer,” which was proposed (without consultation with communities) to permanently abolish the Office of the People’s Counsel from the County Code and replace it with a Resource Officer who would not be allowed to participate in hearings.
VIEW BILL 41-16
VIEW MCCF 11/1/16 TESTIMONY
At its 10/10/16 meeting, MCCF passed an emergency resolution opposing this Bill which was just introduced on 10/4/16.  A Community Resource Officer would be no comparison to the responsibilities of the Office of People’s Counsel, which is an attorney responsible for representing the public interest in land use and zoning matters.
■  MCCF pushed hard to establish this office and it was finally placed in the County Code in 1990.  The funding for the OPC in 2008 was $246,000 for 1.8 positions.  In 2010, the County Council removed funding for this important office ostensibly for fiscal reasons.
■  Three development ombudsmen/coordinator positions ($577,000) have been funded — with MCDOT CIP funds — since the time that the OPC was defunded, essentially using debt service to pay for public positions that assist developers, but the Council has not restored funding to the position that is supposed to represent the public interest.

2016 UPDATE TO THE COUNTY’S SUBDIVISION STAGING (GROWTH) POLICY

Here is the video of the September 12, 2016, MCCF meeting, held in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Executive Office Building in Rockville.  The three speakers were (from left):  Eric Graye, Planning Supervisor, Montgomery County Planning Department [blue shirt]; Glenn Orlin, Deputy Administrator, Montgomery County Council [green shirt]; and Pamela Dunn, Division Chief, Montgomery County Planning Department. View their presentation, broken into two parts:
VIEW PART 1
VIEW PART 2

2015 ROCK SPRING COMMUNITY MEETING

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is inviting residents, business owners, and anyone with an interest in the Rock Spring area to attend a community meeting hosted by the Rock Spring Master Plan team on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at Walter Johnson High School (6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD) from 7 to 9 p.m.  The 10/28/15 community meeting follows the 9/17/15 joint meeting with the Rock Spring and White Flint 2 Master Plan teams which focused on MCPS facility concerns in the Walter Johnson High School cluster. The 9/17/15 meeting, which drew about 100 residents, was held to begin the dialogue about how to address school facility issues in this cluster.  During the upcoming master plan process for Rock Spring, Planning Department staff and MCPS staff claim they will collaborate with the community to ensure that land use and zoning recommendations are coordinated with the corresponding recommendations for educational facilities.
ROCK SPRING MASTER PLAN

TRANSIT STATION | RESIDENTIAL ZONE CHANGE

Zoning Text Amendment 14-08, to expand geographical applicability standard of the Transit Station-Residential (TS-R) Zone, was introduced on 7/8/14 by Councilmembers Berliner and Andrews.
■ On 9/2/14 Council held hearing, and ZTA subsequently withdrawn by sponsors as a result of MCCF testimony explaining the legislation was a “special law for a special case” (as it would impact only one property in the county), and thus prohibited by the State Constitution.
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY

MOBILITY ASSESSMENT REPORTS

2014 Draft Mobility Assessment Report was discussed by Planning Board at 4/17/14 session.  Report now includes intersection and road congestion data, as well as transit ridership, pedestrian, and bicycle usage.
VIEW 2014 MOBILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT
2011 Mobility Assessment Report, formerly “Highway Mobility Report,” was approved by Planning Board on 10/27/11 for transmittal to County Council.  Report was required to be submitted to Council as part of 2012 Growth Policy discussion, now called Subdivision Division Staging Policy.
■ On 10/31/11 Council T&E Comm. held worksession on the report.
VIEW PLANNING STAFF MEMO FULL REPORT & APPENDIX (AGENDA ITEM 8)
2009 Highway Mobility Report, “Failing Intersections Analysis,” was prepared 4/6/10 by Civic Federation PLU Committee from the 2009 Highway Mobility Report.
VIEW MCCF PLU COMMITTEE ANALYSIS VIEW 2009 HIGHWAY MOBILITY REPORT

ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE PROJECT

■ Planning Department’s Zoning Code Rewrite Project webpage includes a list of meeting dates for the Zoning Advisory Panel:
ZONING CODE REWRITE PROJECT WEBPAGE
■ Code Studio, consultant, released draft Agricultural and Residential zoning in Oct. 2010.
VIEW DISTRICT CONVERSION CHART
■ Development Patterns section (Div. 4-4) of draft Residential District pulled for long-term study on Dec. 7, 2010.
VIEW PLANNING DEPT. E-MAIL
■ Code Studio released draft Ag/Res Districts “Use and Use Standards” and “Definitions” sections on Dec. 8, 2010
■ Council briefing on Project on 1/18/11.
VIEW COUNCIL PACKET
■ In July 2012 Planning staff released a Consolidated Draft of the proposed new Zoning Ordinance for review by the Zoning Advisory Panel prior to submitting to Board.
VIEW CONSOLIDATED DRAFT
■ Planning Board to hold series of public hearings/worksessions on parts of Draft through end of 2012.
■ Final public hearing held by Board on 4/23/13, followed by clean-up worksession prior to transmittal to County Council.  Board continued work on process to implement new Code, when approved.
■ On 6/11/13, Council held hearing on ZTA 13-04 and District Map Amendment G-956.
VIEW MCCF WRITTEN COMMENTS
■ Council PHED Committee work sessions held 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/2, 7/12, 7/19, 7/30, 9/13, 9/20 and 9/27/13.
■ Council held second public hearing 11/12 and 11/14/13.  Following MCCF testimony, the PHED Comm. has scheduled work sessions for 12/2 and 12/9/13 prior to transmitting recommended version to full Council for worksession 1/14, 1/15 & 1/16/14 (NOTE: At 12/2 session PHED agreed to split the DMA from the zoning code rewrite, and consider DMA later in 2014.)
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
■ 1/14-15/14, Council held worksessions on Code Rewrite, agreed to postpone action on DMA.  (On 1/14/14, improperly adopted Floreen amendment to CR Zones as a Committee recommendation, to allow height and density limits to be exceeded to accommodate MPDUs); Council and Planning staff crafting text to reflect changes Council made to new Code, due mid-Feb.
READ MCCF COLUMN ON THIS CHANGE
■ 3/4/14, Council adopted ZTA 13-04, new Zoning Code as amended (effective on adoption of DMA).
■ July 15, 2014 — Council approved District Map Amendment, applying new Code to properties throughout county — new code and DMA zoning take effect 10/30/14.  [NOTE: Existing area Overlay Zones are contained in “59-4. Euclidian zoning” section of new code]
VIEW NEW ZONING CODE
VIEW ZONING CONVERSION TABLE

APPROVING RECORD PLATS PROCESS

Proposed changes to process of approving Record Plats.  On 12/10/13 Council member Riemer sponsored Subdivision Regulation Amendment 13-03, to eliminate responsibility for Dept. of Permitting Services to approve plats, and Bill 31-13, to remove Dept. of Transportation responsibility in plat approval process; Council hearing held 2/4/14; subsequently, PHED Comm. action postponed.
VIEW SUBDIVISION REG. AMENDMENT 13-03
VIEW BILL 31-13

MINOR MASTER PLAN AMENDMENTS

As part of their approval of the Planning Department work program outlined in the Spring 2012 Semi-Annual Report of the Planning Board, the County Council on April 10 approved a new application process for minor master plan amendments.  Property owners and community groups in the county interested in addressing issues of land use, zoning or other community priorities in their neighborhoods may now submit applications for minor master plan amendments to be considered by the Planning Board and County Council.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE
ACCESS ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
■ On 7/31/12, Council approved adding 2 minor master plan amendments — Pooks Hill Marriott and Sandy Spring/Ashton Village Center Overlay Zone — to Planning Board work program for FY2013, and left a space in FY2014 work program for Halpine Apartments (or could be folded into Aspen Hill master plan revision coming forward in next Council).
■ In FY14 County Operating Budget, adopted 5/23/13, Council approved inclusion of 3 minor master plan amendments in the Planning Board work program: Apex Building in Bethesda, Aspen Hill employment area (site proposed for WalMart & surrounding area), and Sandy Spring Village Center.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PIPELINE

The pipeline of development projects approved by the Planning Board but not yet built was compiled by Planning Department in March 2012.  The pipeline packet has a breakdown of projects by planning area.
PLANNING DEPT. PIPELINE WEBPAGE
VIEW PIPELINE PACKET

DEVELOPMENT IMPACT TAX

On 1/24/12 MCCF testified before County Council in opposition to Bill 39-11, to exempt from development impact tax (for transportation) and school impact tax certain multifamily residential projects.  The staff packet includes the estimate that the Bill could cost the County $57 million.
VIEW STAFF PACKET
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY

HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Healthy and Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Action is a report from the County Department of Environmental Protection and the Planning Department, released September 2008.
VIEW REPORT
The Montgomery County Planning Board discussed progress on indicators in a 7/14/11 memo. VIEW MEMO

2011 COUNTY HOUSING POLICY REVISION

The County Department of Housing and Community Affairs sponsored two public meetings (November 30 & December 1, 2011) to hear from residents and organizations interested in contributing to the update of the 2001 Housing Policy.  For those unable to present comments in person, DHCA accepted written comments through 12/15/11.  The Department expected to transmit their recommended 2012 Housing Policy to the County Council in January, after which the Council was to have scheduled a public hearing.
DHCA PRESS RELEASE 11/21/11
COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY MCCF
■ The County Executive’s proposed revision of the county Housing Policy is to be presented to the Council’s PHED Committee at a committee worksession on 7/19/12; item was deferred.

PLAN MARYLAND

On 28 April 2011, Maryland Dept. of Planning released draft “Plan Maryland,” for future growth of state; 8 public forums held during public comment period that ran through Sept. 1.
STATE WEBSITE ON PLAN
■ September 2011 the Dept. released a revised draft of Plan Maryland.
VIEW REVISED DRAFT
■ On 10/27/11 staff briefed Planning Board on draft revision changes in response to comments provided by the bi-county Park & Planning Commission; Board agreed to join County Executive and Council President in signing a Joint Letter to state.
VIEW STAFF PACKET
■ On 10/28/11 County Executive, Council President & Planning Board sent Joint Letter on revised draft version of Plan Maryland to state Dept. of Planning (last 2 pages of Board staff packet above)

PLANNING BOARD SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS

Semi-Annual Reports of Planning Board presented to County Council — includes schedule for work on master plans and other major projects, which Council must approve:
VIEW SPRING 2011 REPORT
VIEW FALL 2011 REPORT
VIEW SPRING 2012 REPORT
VIEW FALL 2012 REPORT
VIEW SPRING 2013 REPORT
VIEW FALL 2013 REPORT
VIEW SPRING 2014 REPORT
VIEW 2014 SCHEDULE CHANGE
VIEW FALL 2014 REPORT

CODE ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATION

Code Enforcement Legislation pending in Council (see Archives for enactments).
■ Bill 24-09, Building Permits and Inspections, introduced in Council 5/4/09; hearing held on 6/9/09.
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY
PHED Comm. held worksession 10/3/11 and decided not to report out bill for full Council action, since ZTA 09-03 as approved now requires Use and Occupancy Permits for single-family detached home construction.
SEE ARCHIVED PLU ISSUES

URBAN NOISE ORDINANCES

On 6/14/11 MCCF presented County Council our concerns on Bill 16-11, Noise Ordinance amendments for urban areas.
VIEW MCCF TESTIMONY

TRANSPORTATION POLICY AREA REVIEW

Draft of new Transportation Policy Area Review (TPAR) transmitted to Council in April 2010; action pending.  The TPAR tests would replace the current Policy Area Mobility Review (PAMR) and be used in growth policy — now called the Subdivision Staging Policy — to determine how much new development can be accommodated by roads and transit in each county planning area.
PRESENTATION ON DRAFT TPAR 7/15/10
■ Planning Board held overview and hearing on 2012 Draft TPAR on April 19, 2012, with worksessions on May 3 and 10.
MCCF COMMENTS ON DRAFT TPAR

MASTER AND SECTOR PLAN REVISIONS

VIEW EXISTING PLANS ONLINE
Lyttonsville Purple Line Station/White Flint/Gaithersburg East/Montgomery Village: On pg. 61 of proposed FY12 M-NCPPC Budget in Brief, Planning staff recommends work efforts begin in FY12 on Lyttonsville (Brookeville Road) Purple Line Station Sector Plan, White Flint Phase II Sector Plan, and Gaithersburg East/Montgomery Village Sector Plan.
Aspen Hill/Sandy Spring: Limited Master Plan Amendments underway at Aspen Hill Employment Area and Sandy Spring Village Center.
Westbard (South Bethesda) Sector Plan public meetings started 9/23/14.
Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan public meetings restarted 5/6/14; mtgs set for 6/2,9,16.
Bethesda CBD Sector Plan public meetings began Spring 2014; concept plan unveiled by staff at 5/17/14 meeting at B-CC High School.
White Flint II Sector Plan: Planning Board held scoping session with staff on 4/26/12.

WHITE OAK SCIENCE CENTER GATEWAY MASTER PLAN

The project scope was approved by the Planning Board on 3 February 2011; Board transmitted Draft Plan to Council at end of July 2013; but in a letter dated 10/2/13 Council remanded Plan back to Board for further work on land use balance and other needed changes; Board held worksessions in December, 2013, prior to retransmittal to Council.
VIEW 10/2/13 COUNCIL LETTER
■ 2/4/14, Council hearing.
VIEW 2/4/14 MCCF TESTIMONY
■ 7/18/14, MCCF memo to Council prior to their 7/22 worksession and straw votes.
VIEW 7/18/14 MCCF MEMO
■ 7/29/14 Council approved Plan w/minor amendments (8-0-1, Elrich abstaining); also approved amendment to Subdivision Staging Policy labeling area as "urban" with transit, which increased acceptable levels of traffic congestion at signalized intersections in the area
■ 9/16/14, Councilmembers Floreen, Navarro and Rice introduced Subdivision Staging Policy Amendment 14-02, which would weaken the LATR traffic test for White Oak area only by not counting trips generated by approved-but-unbuilt projects (i.e., “background traffic”) except for those that had pulled a Building Permit; on 10/7 Council held hearing on SSPA 14-02.
VIEW 9/16/14 MCCF TESTIMONY
On 10/16/14, Floreen sent memo to fellow Councilmembers offering an amendment to SSPA 14-02 in the nature of a substitute.  On 10/20 PHED Committee held worksession but deferred further action until 11/25, when recommended changes to the Floreen substitute are expected from Council, Planning Department and county Department of Transportation staff
VIEW 10/16/14 FLOREEN MEMO

PLU ARCHIVES

Click below to view archived issues tracked by this committee.
VIEW ARCHIVED ISSUES