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THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION |
| PLANNING BOARD | DEPARTMENT OF PARKS | PLANNING DEPARTMENT |
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Planning Board Agenda Feb. 6, 2014
|  Find out about what is on the agenda for Thursday's Planning Board meeting: Check out the full agenda here.
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You're Invited to the Sandy Spring Rural Village Design Workshop
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Four-day design charrette hosted by Montgomery Planning wants feedback from residents, business owners
What: Free Four-Day Design Workshop
When: Monday, Feb. 3 through Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014
Where: The Library of the Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring.
The Montgomery County Planning Department will be hosting a design workshop to capture ideas for transforming the heart of Sandy Spring and all residents and business owners are invited to attend. The results of the charrette, or design workshop, will ultimately help inform the Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan and follow the guidance in the 1998 Master Plan to determine how to best connect the new fire station into a village center concept. Learn more
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Attend the Next Winter Speakers Series - Feb. 27
|  The Planning Department's Winter Speakers Series presents the second presentation on housing in the region on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.
Featuring Mildrilyn Davis, Director of the Office of Housing for the City of Alexandria, Virginia and Helen McIlvaine, Deputy Director of the Office of Housing for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. View the information from the first session and learn more. |
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Check Out the Video from Jan. 30 at the First Winter Speakers Series Hosted by the Planning Department.
|  Lisa Sturtevant, Executive Director, Center for Housing Policy and Vice President, National Housing Conference. Ms. Sturtevant spoke about housing trends in our region and the importance of the connection to transportation. Learn more. |
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Bethesda Downtown
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Find out about the latest with the Bethesda Downtown Plan and how you can get involved with shaping the future of downtown Bethesda.
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Wheaton Youth Center Meeting - Feb. 12
|  Learn about the Planning Board's recommendations for historic designation of the Wheaton Youth Center at a community meeting held on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Saddlebrook Building (M-NCPPC Police HQ 12751 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, Md.). The discussion will also focus on the opportunity for the historic building to co-exist with the planned new recreation-library facility.
What: Wheaton Youth Center (now Wheaton Recreation Center) Community Meeting
When: Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Saddlebrook Building (M-NCPPC Police HQ 12751 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, Md.)
Check out more information or call: 301-563-3400
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Summer Camp Registration is Open! $25 Discount on Select Camps for Early Birds
Montgomery Parks has dozens of fun and affordably priced summer camps for all ages and interests at locations across the county. Registration is open and you can save $25 on select camps if you sign up early. To access the searchable database of summer camps please visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/camps or check the online guide at www.MontgomeryParks.org/guide.
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Celebrate Black History Month
Each Saturday in February
11420 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
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Open House & Guided Tours - Celebrate Black History Month at Josiah Henson Park. Each weekend in February you can Retrace the footsteps of Reverend Josiah Henson from his enslavement to escape to freedom in Canada. Walk the grounds where Henson toiled as a slave on the Isaac Riley plantation.
The last weekend in February we will also host a Spoken Word Poetry Event - "Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom" Create and share your own "sounds of freedom" in the form of original poetry. Please visit for more information visit www.HistoryInTheParks.org
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Zoning Rewrite Milestone Reached
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The Montgomery County Council expressed significant support for a proposed new zoning ordinance on Wednesday by voting 7-1 in favor of the proposed text in a straw vote taken at the conclusion of their worksessions on the document. The rewrite, if adopted, would be the most comprehensive update to the law that governs land use in the County in more than 30 years. More details are available here.
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Connect With Us on Facebook
|  Get up to speed on everything you need to know about Montgomery Planning by liking us on Facebook. From news updates, interesting photos and helpful information, the Montgomery Planning FB page is your one-stop shop for all things Planning: https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryplanning
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Work With Us
|  Interested in a career with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission? Check out our list of rewarding job opportunities here.
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Renovation of Mill Creek Stream Valley Storm Water Facilities
M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks will begin renovations on stormwater facilities located in the Mill Creek Stream Valley in February. Renovations are expected to last for two weeks, and will involve the removal of large trees located on the dams of the stormwater ponds. The trees are being removed in order to comply with the Maryland State Dam Regulations and mandates from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Visitors are urged to use caution near construction areas. For more information, visit www.ParkProjects.org or call 301-495-2595.
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Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Will Not Seek Second Term
Françoise Carrier announces decision to retire from Board after one term
Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Françoise Carrier announced that she will not seek a second term as Chair. Carrier sent an email to the Planning and Parks Department staff on Thursday evening announcing her decision: "It is with mixed feelings that I write to tell you I have decided not to seek a second term as Planning Board Chair. It has been wonderful working with such fine people, and I will always love this agency, but for me, one term feels right."
Appointed in 2010 by the Montgomery County Council, Carrier's tenure has been marked as one of the busiest and most productive terms during the Board's history with the approval of Master Plans such as: Chevy Chase Lake, Takoma/Langley, Glenmont, Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Plan and Long Branch. Carrier also oversaw the zoning code rewrite and is responsible for significant changes to the subdivision staging policy. During Carrier's term, the Planning Board adopted a new Park and Planning Master Plan, the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan for Parks and Recreation; approved park master plans and capital programs; and oversaw the renewed development of the Montgomery Parks Foundation, which successfully cultivates financial support and public engagement of county residents and businesses as donors and advocates.
Carrier will serve until the end of her term, retiring on June 14, 2014. Learn more
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Celebrate 15 Years of Weed Warriors
Ongoing Throughout the Year
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The weather outside might be a bit chilly, but the Weed Warriors stay warm with double the activity!
Join us in honor of our 15th birthday with "On the 15s." We're claiming the 15th of every month for invasive eradication efforts. Or join us for one of our regular workdays on the first Saturday of the month. Please visit www.WeedWarrior.org for more information.
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User-Friendly Tool Highlights Current Development
|  Want to know more about development projects proposed near where you live or work? To stay abreast of Montgomery County development activity, visit our online Development Finder to learn details about building applications to be considered by the Planning Board.
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| Shades of Green |  Many urban areas in Montgomery County lack significant tree cover. To improve this, the Planning Department has launched Shades of Green, a pilot program that provides free trees and two years of tree care to property owners in qualifying locations. Visit our Shades of Green webpage for qualifying locations and information about how to bring positive change to your neighborhood!
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Volunteer Opportunities
Montgomery Parks is looking for both special event and long-term volunteers. Go to www.ParksVolunteers.org, click on Search and Apply for Volunteer Opportunities, then click on the category that interests you. Here are some examples of the opportunities we have open:
- NNI Removal Events, Various locations and dates, help us rid the park trees of vines and other Non-Native Invasives that are taking over!
- Tree Stewards, Various parks - commit to at least one year of quarterly park visits. Help us keep an eye on our most valuable resource in parks, our trees!
- Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 14 - 17, Show your Valentine love for birds by helping us track them in this year's bird count at the Nature Center.
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Maple Sugar Festival, February 23rd, Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton. Help us out at this fun festival all about Maple Syrup!
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Have Questions About the Zoning Rewrite Project? Drop in During Daily Office Hours
 Office hours
Mon/Wed/Fri: 2-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m-noon
Thursday: by appointment (Call 301.495.1325)
Office hours are held at the 2nd floor Information Counter at Park and Planning Headquarters.
The Montgomery County Planning Board continues to work on the Zoning Revision Project, which is modernizing and updating the county's zoning code. On Thursday, the Board will begin an implementation review, where they will evaluate and make recommendations on potential zone changes, primarily in non-residential areas. Zone implementation review will occur weekly at the Board, with a goal of transmitting both the draft revision and the implementation recommendations to the County Council in May. Follow the Board schedule.
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Chronicling Montgomery County Trends
 The Center for Research & Information Systems identifies and tracks demographic, household and economic trends to help inform planning throughout Montgomery County. These detailed statistics help us identify and analyze changes in population, housing and economy. View our latest trendsheets on employment, housing, demographics and retail/office space from the first quarter of 2013. |
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New Online Application Submittal System
Planners have launched ePlans, a new online application submittal and review system. Developers now will file all application materials for preliminary and site plan applications electronically through ePlans and applications will remain in electronic form for agency reviewers, negating the need for multiple copies and streamlining labor and cost.
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Community Organization Lists
Our new online tool will make HOA organization email addresses available to web users seeking to notify residents about pending development or other issues. We rely on homeowners and civic organizations to help spread the word about development applications and planning initiatives. Homeowner's association leaders may want to update your organizational contact information to a generic 'mygroup@gmail.com' and update your contact information.
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Have a Question About Planning?
 Wondering about that sign advertising pending development in your community? Curious about how forest conservation works? Residents and others with questions about development, community plans, zoning, transportation, or environmental issues may find the answers they seek on a new Department HELP page. The page features links, an online employee directory and an online question/comment form.
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Have a Question About M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks?
 Have a question about Montgomery Parks? Need to report a problem or maintenance issue in a park? Check out the Department's new, easy to use Customer Service Center and find out how to contact us by phone and email. You'll also find an easy to use online form to submit questions or information about problems in parks.
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How Shady is Your Neighborhood?
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 Planners have analyzed Montgomery County's tree canopy as part of an effort to improve the local climate and energy efficiency of urban areas. The more shade, the less energy required for cooling homes and cars. While much of the county boasts a healthy tree canopy, some urban areas lack shade - right where it is needed most. Now you can analyze your community with our new tree canopy explorer.
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Find a Forest Conservation Easement
| | Do you have a forest conservation easement on or near your property? Easements protect forests on private land by limiting certain activities, part of the Planning Board's emphasis on forest conservation. Now you can locate easement areas using our online tool. |
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