Scottish-born planner steered complex projects in Potomac, Bethesda, White Flint and other communities and helped protect the Agricultural Reserve

The Montgomery County Planning Department announces the retirement of planner Callum Murray on December 31, 2014. Over his 26 years of service, Murray worked as the Master Planner/Supervisor for an area of 375 square miles in Montgomery County, including Potomac, Md. and the 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve. Learn more. 

Residents invited to get involved with special events and community meetings to discuss plans and regulations for the County's future

The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce a very exciting events calendar for January 2015. From a special speakers series to community meetings, there are many ways to engage with the planners and Board members, and get involved with the future of Montgomery County. Review the full list of events below and go online to www.montgomeryplanning.org for more details on projects and plans. Learn more about the Montgomery Planning Calendar of events for January 2015.  

One of nation's most successful farm protection efforts showcased in movie produced by the Montgomery Countryside Alliance

The Montgomery County Planning Department invites the public to a free screening of "Growing Legacy" on Wednesday, February 4 at noon. The 30-minute film will be shown in the auditorium at the Department's headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD), followed by a question-and-answer session with the film's producers. Learn more. 

Community feedback and next steps for the Westbard Sector Plan discussed at December 18 meeting

Staff from the Montgomery County Planning Department presented the results from its weeklong PlanWestbard Community Charrette to the County Planning Board on Thursday, December 18. During this series of intensive workshops held in mid-November, planners met extensively with state and local agencies, citizen associations, property and business owners and individual residents from the Westbard area. They held visioning and feedback sessions on plan concepts and ideas produced through interaction among the planning team, community and other stakeholders. On Tuesday evening, November 18, at the Westland Middle School, the Westbard planning team presented the planning concepts that resulted from the Community Charrette. View PlanWestbard December 18 Planning Board briefing documents.

Community invited to give feedback on first draft of comprehensive rewrite of Chapter 50 of the Montgomery County code

The Montgomery County Planning Department is inviting community members and developers to review the newly released draft of Chapter 50 of the Montgomery County Code that governs the subdivision of land in the county. View the draft of the Subdivision Regulations Amendment.

This draft represents the most comprehensive rewrite of the Subdivision Regulations in 50 years and was undertaken at the direction of the Montgomery County Council. It responds to the county's newly released Zoning Ordinance and seeks to clarify and streamline the review and approvals process for new subdivisions. 

View the new Subdivision Regulations Video.

Zoning Ordinance launch and leadership changes top 10 achievements of 2014

The Montgomery County Planning Department  presents its 2014 Year in Review. This list represents the most significant accomplishments for the year. View the full list of the Top 10 achievements for 2014.

Park and stream cleanups are scheduled January 17- 20, 2015 at locations around the county; Student Service Learning Hours (SSL) available at all volunteer projects.

Montgomery Parks is joining thousands of organizations nationwide for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. Volunteer park and stream cleanups and non-native invasive plant removal projects will be taking place throughout the weekend of January 17 - 20, 2015 at park sites around the county. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service brings out hundreds of thousands of people to volunteer in their communities. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Montgomery Parks for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

Planners seek suggestions from local residents and business owners on proposed building densities and potential economic development for Lyttonsville.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is inviting interested residents and business owners of the Greater Lyttonsville community to a meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center (2450 Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring, MD) from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to discuss the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan. Planners will present their concepts for the Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan and the results of a recent economic development study completed by the Washington, DC-based consultant Bolan Smart. This meeting is a chance for the public to weigh in on the concept framework recommendations before they are presented for approval to the Montgomery County Planning Board in March 2015. We are looking for your feedback on different planning scenarios for the community, including low, medium and high-density development options.

View the English and Spanish versions of the Montgomery Village Plan short promo videos and learn how you can get involved with the master planning process. Check out all of the details on the Montgomery Village Plan.

English Promo

Spanish Promo

 Third Montgomery Planning Speaker Series Event on To Examine Corridor Cities in Montgomery County.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting the third session in its Winter Speakers Series on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md.). The series is called "A Once and Future County: Lessons on How Planning Politics Shaped Montgomery County" and is hosted by Royce Hanson, former chairman of the County's Planning Board. The January 14 session, "Trials and Errors of Corridor Cities Planning," focuses on the planning politics and development in the Rockville-Gaithersburg area; the challenges of a new town in Germantown; and the planning and development of Clarksburg.

Learn more about the Once and Future County Speakers Series.

Use hashtag: #onceandfuturecounty;

Montgomery Parks will host a community meeting at Rockwood Manor Special Park to present findings from a recently completed feasibility study for the park and facility. Please visit www.ParkProjects.org and click on Rockwood Manor under Public Meetings.  

Find out about hundreds of programs, classes and events taking place in parks this winter. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/Guide.

Montgomery Parks has made a difficult decision to cancel the annual Garden of Lights show this year due to ongoing construction at Brookside Gardens. Find information on many other holiday happenings in Montgomery Parks here.