The Montgomery County Planning Board is pleased to announce its calendar for August 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.

Montgomery County Planning Board has approved new plans for the Clarksburg Town Center submitted by Third Try, LLC of McLean, VA. These project, preliminary and site plan amendments are limited to the unbuilt portions of the 270-acre Town Center, on both the east and west sides of the development. They include a revised design of the commercial core, new community and civic buildings, and upgrades to two local parks.

When implemented, the plans will complete the Clarksburg Town Center after years of delay, due to numerous violations associated with the build-out of the community. An agreement reached by a citizen-led group known as the Clarksburg Town Center Advisory Committee and developer NNPII Clarksburg LLC (Newlands) led to a new site plan in 2009, calling for significant improvements to the Town Center.  However, Newlands did not move forward with these plans, eventually selling the unfinished portions of the property to Third Try. Learn more here. 

Recommendations include preserving Village character and open spaces, enhancing connectivity and encouraging reinvestment in retail centers

The Montgomery County Planning Department presented the Working Draft of the Montgomery Village Master Plan to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, July 23. 

Pending the Board's approval, the public hearing for the Montgomery Village Master Plan is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 10 at which time community residents and property owners can testify about the Plan. A public notice about the hearing will be sent when the date and location are confirmed. Learn more here. 

View the Montgomery Village Master Plan Working Draft.

The Montgomery County Planning Department seeks to recognize exceptional work in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design through its first annual Design Excellence Award. Developers, property owners and their design teams are invited to submit built projects that contribute to improving the quality of physical environments throughout the County.

The deadline for submission is Friday, August 21, 2015. The selection of a winner will be made by an outside jury of accomplished professionals, including architects, urbanists and a landscape architect, invited by the Planning Department. Learn more about the awards jury. Learn more here.

Submit to the Montgomery County Planning Department's Design Excellence Award.

Montgomery Parks is hosting a community meeting to present plans for the design and construction of a hard surface trail connection between the Capital Crescent Trail and the Little Falls Trail near the Bethesda Pool. Learn more here.  

The Shady Grove Advisory Committee with meet Tuesday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Parks Department Training Center on Crabbs Branch Way.  

Agenda:

I.  Shady Grove Sector Plan Implementation

a. Brown Street/Crabbs Branch Way Share Use Path

b. County Service Park redevelopment

II. Proposed Carmax Annexation (Silverwood Companies) 

III. Other topics

Join Montgomery Parks at the July 30 Planning Board meeting to provide input on proposed park locations for new dedicated cricket fields. Proposed locations include South Germantown Recreational Park, Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park and the future Boyds Local Park.

Visit ParkPlanning.org for more information and to tell us what you think! 

M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks is seeking input on a proposed pilot Archery Managed Deer Hunting Program to complement its existing Managed Hunting Programs and Park Police-based Sharpshooting deer population management efforts. Visit ParksDeerManagement.org for more information and to share your comments through July 30, 2015. 

Free guided hikes on our Underground Railroad Trail are offered each Saturday, beginning at 9:00 am, through August 31, 2015. The Underground Railroad Experience Trail hike commemorates the involvement of county residents in the Underground Railroad and celebrates the Quaker heritage and traditions of Sandy Spring, MD.  More information can be found at UndergroundRRExperience.org.

The Montgomery County Planning Board completed the first of five work sessions to review the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan. The session, held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Planning Department headquarters, addressed the proposed zoning strategy for Downtown Bethesda as it relates to building density and height increases, and considered transportation infrastructure and school capacity. Learn more here.

View the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan Public Hearing Draft.

View the Power Point Presentation from the July 20 Work Session #1. 

Do you know how many snakes in this area are venomous? Check out the Summer of Safety Campaign. For tips related to snakes in parks visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Field Guide to Maryland's Snake.
 

Montgomery Parks has some suggestions for you to get out and enjoy parks during Parks and Recreation month as well as all year long, from hiking to camping to visiting the Annual Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar show at Brookside Gardens. 

Parking at Brookside Gardens for the Wings of Fancy Exhibit and general garden access may be limited, due to ongoing construction. Visit parking alternatives and the Garden Gateway project for more information.

Recommendations include creating better connections to the Capital Crescent Trail, restoring the Willett Branch stream and encouraging revitalization of older retail areas

SILVER SPRING, MD - The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has completed the Working Draft of the Westbard Sector Plan for presentation to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, July 16.

The Board's public hearing about the Westbard Sector Plan is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 24, pending its approval of the Working Draft at the July 16 meeting. The community will be invited to comment on the Westbard Sector Plan recommendations at the September 24 public hearing held at the Planning Department headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD). Learn more here.

View the Westbard Sector Plan Working Draft. 

Storm water management and improvements at Good Hope Local Park are scheduled to begin with work to continue through August 2015. Ball fields and trails will remain open and accessible. For more info, click here.

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

Montgomery Parks has begun improvements to Indian Spring Terrace Local Park. Work will continue through August 2015. A portion of the parking lot and access ways will be inaccessible. The park facilities will remain open but park users should use caution around construction sites. Contact MontgomeryParks.org for further information.