The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce its events calendar for February 2015. From a movie screening to a community meeting, these public sessions offer ways to engage with planners and Board members, and help shape 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.

The Montgomery County Planning Department invited nationally recognized urban design and planning expert Noré Winter to discuss community design guidelines with staff, residents and the Planning Board from Tuesday, January 27 through Thursday, January 29. This initiative is part of a broader effort to implement design excellence throughout the County. The visit explored the challenges, applications, and regulatory issues associated with design guidelines. Learn more here.

Celebrate Capital Transit Day and learn about the end of street car service in the nation's capital with a visit to the National Capital Trolley Museum. Visitors can enjoy a two mile ride aboard an original Washington Street Car and tour Street Car Hall.  www.dctrolley.org.

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 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.

February 4, 6:45 - 8PM
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD 20855 

The black bear has made a comeback! Join Harry Spiker, the Department of Natural Resources' top bear guy to learn about the black bear's natural history and DNR's management efforts to monitor and control bear populations in Maryland. Register here
 

Black History Month continues to be an important vehicle for understanding our past so we can build the foundation for a future. As part of Black History Month and the History in the Parks programming, Montgomery Parks' own archaeologists and volunteers will provide free guided tours at Josiah Henson Park every Saturday in February. Also on display every Saturday will be PBS' Time Team America documentary, "The Search for Josiah Henson," which will be shown on the hour starting at noon. The month-long festivities at the park conclude on Saturday, February 28 with a spoken word poetry event, "Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom." Click here for more event information.  

Celebrate the wondrous water birds that call Little Seneca Lake home in winter. Activities include decoy carving, making a bird bonnet and guided bird hikes. Free, no registration required.

Montgomery Parks is proposing to construct two solar farms on park property by the end of 2015 in South Germantown Recreational Park and Rock Creek Regional Park. The public can provide input on this proposal in person at the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board meeting on February 9 at 7 p.m. and the Montgomery County Planning Board meeting on March 5. Visit ParkPlanning.org for more information and to Tell us what you think!

Discussion that was originally set for January 26 has been moved to February 9 due to inclement weather.

The Montgomery County Planning Department has rescheduled the planned discussion of proposed commercial zoning and details of the Montgomery Village Master Plan to February 9 at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD). Originally, the discussion was to be held on January 26 but had to be postponed due to inclement weather and travel concerns. Addition meeting dates will be announced by the Planning Department in coming days. Learn more here.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting the fourth session in its Winter Speakers Series on Wednesday, February 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md.). The series is called "A Once and Futurew County: Lessons on How Planning Politics Shaped Montgomery County" and is hosted by Royce Hanson, former chairman of the County's Planning Board. Find out more about the event here.

Join experts to learn why it is of critical importance to protect our pollinators. Registration is open for this year's Green Matters Symposium taking place on February 27 at the Silver Spring Civic Center. www.BrooksideGreen.org

The Tree Farm Trail connecting the Agricultural History Farm Park to Laytonia Recreational Park is closed as improvements are being made. The trail will reopen in Spring of 2017.

The 2015 Montgomery County Recreation and Parks Camps and Programs Guide is here! Registration is open and we have early bird specials to save $25 on select camps. www.MontgomeryParks.org/camps

During inclement weather conditions you can find the latest information about the status of park and program operations at www.MontgomeryParks.org/weather. Learn more on our pilot snow removal program on the Capital Crescent Trail at www.MontgomeryParks.org/CCT. #CCTSnow