Anderson and Dreyfuss will both serve four-year terms on the five-member Planning Board

The Montgomery County Planning Board announces the Montgomery County Council's reappointment of Casey Anderson (D) to the position of Planning Board Chair for a four-year term. The Council also reappointed Planning Board member Norman Dreyfuss (R) to a four-year term.

In addition to Anderson and Dreyfuss, the Planning Board members are Amy Presley (R), Natali Fani-González (D) and Marye Wells-Harley (D). 

The Council originally appointed Anderson to the Planning Board in June 2011 and designated him as Chair in July 2014. Norman Dreyfuss was first appointed to a partial term in February 2010 and is now completing his first full term. Both members applied for reappointment. Learn more here. 

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

The Montgomery County Planning Board is pleased to announce its calendar for June 2015. These events offer ways to engage with planners and Planning Board members, and help shape the future of communities within Montgomery County. Review the full list of events below and go online to www.montgomeryplanning.org for more details on projects and plans. View the full list here.

Planning Board Chair and planners will discuss current projects related to Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway, Bus Rapid Transit and bike plans

The Montgomery County Planning Department and Planning Board will participate in the Transit Progress Day event at the National Capital Trolley Museum (1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, MD) from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.

The public is invited to learn more about County plans for future Purple Line light rail stations, Corridor Cities Transitway, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, Bicycle Master Plan and other transportation-related projects. Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson and transportation planner Tom Autrey will be on hand to explain the details and answer questions about the recent projects and plans. Learn more here. 

Join Montgomery Parks for a FREE Neighborhood Cookout & Picnic at Wall Park, on Tuesday, June 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy live music and a fun night with your neighbors, family and friends. The Neighborhood Cookout & Picnic at Wall Park will be held every third Tuesday this summer. Visit MontgomeryParks.org for more information. 

Montgomery Parks will hold a Community Meeting at Pinecrest Local Park Tuesday, June 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., to present and answer questions on the upcoming renovations proposed to improve park access and use. The public is invited to come out to review the plan and offer their input in making a better park. For further information, click here.  

The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Staff Draft as the Public Hearing Draft for the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan at its meeting on Thursday, May 21. The Board's public hearing about the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, when the community is invited to comment on the Plan's recommendations. The community is invited to sign up to testify on the Bethesda Downtown Plan at the Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 24 from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Spaces are limited, so the public is encouraged to call 301.495.4605 or sign up to testify online. 

The public is also invited to submit online comments about the Bethesda Downtown Plan via email to bethesdadowntownplan@montgomeryplanning.org. These comments will become part of the public testimony and public record for the Plan. In order to accommodate enough time for testimony, the Board approved the change in the normal Thursday Board meeting schedule for Wednesday, June 24, as well as for the public hearing to be held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. 

View the Bethesda Downtown Plan Public Hearing Draft.

View the May 21 Bethesda Downtown Plan Board presentation.

Learn more

Community invited to meet with planners, learn about the area and provide feedback about issues of concern

The Montgomery County Planning Department is launching the White Flint 2 Sector Plan on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at an open house being held at the Luxmanor Elementary School (6201 Tilden Lane, North Bethesda, MD) from 7 to 9 p.m.

Community residents and business owners are invited to hear about the goals of the Sector Plan and learn about existing conditions and challenges. County planners will discuss the scope of the Plan and answer questions from participants. Attendees will be encouraged to provide initial ideas for the plan on a "feedback wall" at the event. Learn more here.

Online "Feedback Map"available from the June 6 event featuring comments about the County's bicycling network

The Montgomery County Planning Department participated in the Second Great MoCo Bike Summit on Saturday, June 6 at the Silver Spring Civic Center (1 Veterans Plaza). The event focused on ways of incorporating next-generation bicycle facilities into the County's transportation network.

At the summit, County planner David Anspacher presented an overview of the new Bicycle Master Plan and its focus on developing a high-quality network of cycling routes throughout the County.

In addition to the presentations, the approximately 100 attendees had the opportunity to provide written feedback on a large scale County map affixed to the wall of the Silver Spring Civic Building. Attendees were asked to give comments on how the bicycle connections in the County could be improved. Those comments have now been included on an online map and can be viewed by the public and will be considered by planners as work begins on the update to the Bicycle Master Plan.

View the "Feedback Map" from the June 6 Bike Summit. 

Registration for many Montgomery Parks summer classes and programs opened on May 14th. View the Summer Guide online to start planning your summer fun.

Montgomery Parks will be making improvements at Pleasant View Local Park,  Potomac Community Neighborhood Park  and Ayrlawn Local Park to improve access for people with disabilities. For more information on these and other accessibility projects please visit: Accessibility Information for Montgomery Parks webpage.

The playground at Johnson's Local Park will be temporarily closed for renovations as part of the Playground Renovation Program. The project is scheduled to be completed by June, 2015. For more information on the playground renovation project and other parks scheduled, click here.

Portions of the Capital Crescent Trail will be temporarily closed for the next few weeks to allow for trail improvements and better access. For more information, please click here. 

A portion of the Western Piedmont Trail in Little Bennett Regional Park is closed for construction below Hyattstown Mill where the trail crosses Little Bennett Creek. A new bridge is being installed to replace the existing culvert. Construction is expected to last up to a year. For more information on park trails, visit montgomerytrails.org.

Renovations are scheduled at Big Pine Local Park tennis court and tennis wall. The tennis court and tennis wall will not be accessible during renovations that will include new fencing, and the painting of the court. For more information, contact the Montgomery Parks.

Wheaton Woods Local Park Tennis Courts will be temporarily closed for renovations for the fencing to be replaced and the courts colored and striped. A new practice board will also be installed. For additional information, please contact Montgomery Parks.

Portions of the Paint Branch Trail between East Randolph Road and Fairland Road will have restricted use while WSSC begins sewer line and manhole repairs. Please follow the directions of construction flag men for trail detours and use. For more information on park trails, visit montgomerytrails.org.

Montgomery Parks celebrates the opening of Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park, the first park in Montgomery County that is certified for sustainable landscaping and design practices. The park is dedicated to Mary Bradford, Former Director of Montgomery Parks, under whose tenure the park was envisioned and developed. Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park is located at 2001 Evans Parkway, Silver Spring, MD 20901. Watch the video!

Watch the latest video from the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Office on why "Old Places Matter."

Check out this short promo to find out how the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Office is protecting our heritage. Watch it here.

On July 1, 2015, the Planning Department will begin working on a comprehensive update to the Master Plan of Bikeways. Watch the promo here and learn more at montgomeryplanning.org/bikeplan