THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

8787 Georgia Avenue

Quality of Place
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
www.MontgomeryPlanning.org
we review CONTACT US:

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

www.MontgomeryPlanning.org
we listen
301.495.4500

we vision

we map

we plan

we lead
we review CONTACT US:

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

www.MontgomeryPlanning.org
we listen
301.495.4500

we vision

we map

we plan

we lead
 THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

THE TECHNOLOGIES
Our forward-thinking researchers and GIS analysts take the Our demographic, economic, land use, and geographic
lead in developing policies and regulations related to databases help us research and analyze trends and public
growth management, housing (with an emphasis on policy issues for the Planning Board and many local
affordability), demographics, traffic and transit, and school agencies. Among our activities: QUALITY OF PLACE
capacity. Our strategic investments in technology allow for
l leading efforts on a nationally recognized growth
innovative approaches for engaging the public in planning As Montgomery County continues to attract an increasingly
policy that is both fiscally and environmentally
their communities and giving decision-makers new tools for diverse, technologically savvy, well-educated populace, the
sustainable and facilitates high-quality growth in Montgomery County Planning Department focuses its skills
charting the future.
appropriate locations and talents to bring high-quality design in both form and
function to all areas, from central business districts to rural
l completing fiscal impact analyses for master plans
villages.
l preparing population, housing, and employment
forecasts With the Montgomery County Planning Board, the Planning
Department manages growth to benefit those who live,
l conducting Census update surveys work, and visit Maryland's most populous county. Using
proven tools and innovative technologies, the department
l collecting and analyzing demographic, land use,
creates and sustains great communities just north of
and economic data Washington, D.C.
l building databases and maintaining data layers
that underlie the county's Geographic Information
System, with a new emphasis on 3D models for
visualization and impact analysis

Design excellence
 THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

THE TECHNOLOGIES
Our forward-thinking researchers and GIS analysts take the Our demographic, economic, land use, and geographic
lead in developing policies and regulations related to databases help us research and analyze trends and public
growth management, housing (with an emphasis on policy issues for the Planning Board and many local
affordability), demographics, traffic and transit, and school agencies. Among our activities: QUALITY OF PLACE
capacity. Our strategic investments in technology allow for
l leading efforts on a nationally recognized growth
innovative approaches for engaging the public in planning As Montgomery County continues to attract an increasingly
policy that is both fiscally and environmentally
their communities and giving decision-makers new tools for diverse, technologically savvy, well-educated populace, the
sustainable and facilitates high-quality growth in Montgomery County Planning Department focuses its skills
charting the future.
appropriate locations and talents to bring high-quality design in both form and
function to all areas, from central business districts to rural
l completing fiscal impact analyses for master plans
villages.
l preparing population, housing, and employment
forecasts With the Montgomery County Planning Board, the Planning
Department manages growth to benefit those who live,
l conducting Census update surveys work, and visit Maryland's most populous county. Using
proven tools and innovative technologies, the department
l collecting and analyzing demographic, land use,
creates and sustains great communities just north of
and economic data Washington, D.C.
l building databases and maintaining data layers
that underlie the county's Geographic Information
System, with a new emphasis on 3D models for
visualization and impact analysis

Design excellence
THE BIG IDEAS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Design excellence….providing leadership to encourage the
We work hard to promote preservation of the county's
best urban design, creating a new look and feel for the
valuable historic resources. Among our programs and
public realm and private spaces
activities:
Inviting urban centers and rural villages….a mix of housing l identifying, designating, protecting, preserving, and
types, offices, retail, and attractive public spaces that offer interpreting heritage resources for both privately
places to work, live, and play and publicly owned sites
l building awareness of the county's historical and
Growth along transit…. strategies to unify and enhance architectural heritage
communities on bus, Metro, and train lines l reviewing historic area work permit applications to
ensure they are compatible with the historic site or
Sustainability…. balancing every proposed development neighborhood
with its effect on the county's abundant natural resources

Connectivity….in two senses, we're harnessing technologies

to inform planning and improve outreach while linking
people and places through connected swaths of green

Economy….leading the discussion linking planning to

economics and smart growth

Every land use has its place….preserving farmland by

transferring density to urbanizing areas

Inviting urban centers and rural villages Every Land Use has its Place
THE BIG IDEAS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Design excellence….providing leadership to encourage the
We work hard to promote preservation of the county's
best urban design, creating a new look and feel for the
valuable historic resources. Among our programs and
public realm and private spaces
activities:
Inviting urban centers and rural villages….a mix of housing l identifying, designating, protecting, preserving, and
types, offices, retail, and attractive public spaces that offer interpreting heritage resources for both privately
places to work, live, and play and publicly owned sites
l building awareness of the county's historical and
Growth along transit…. strategies to unify and enhance architectural heritage
communities on bus, Metro, and train lines l reviewing historic area work permit applications to
ensure they are compatible with the historic site or
Sustainability…. balancing every proposed development neighborhood
with its effect on the county's abundant natural resources

Connectivity….in two senses, we're harnessing technologies

to inform planning and improve outreach while linking
people and places through connected swaths of green

Economy….leading the discussion linking planning to

economics and smart growth

Every land use has its place….preserving farmland by

transferring density to urbanizing areas

Inviting urban centers and rural villages Every Land Use has its Place
 THE CONTEXT
SUSTAINABILITY The Planning Department is part of The
With vibrant urban centers like Bethesda, Montgomery Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
We plan for sustainable communities and balance every County has become a regional economic force and a Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency
proposed development with its effect on the environment to diverse destination in itself, drawing residents from all over created in 1927 to protect open space and
the globe. Thanks to good planning, the county offers provide planning bordering the nation's
protect and enhance the county's natural resources. Among
historic sites, cultural opportunities, recreational resources, capital.
our programs and activities:
urban villages, and vibrant new downtowns.
l managing the Forest Conservation Program, a
high-profile regulatory program that aims to save The county boasts a progressive government and informed,
and maintain existing forest and plant new forested active, well-educated citizens. It offers a full spectrum of
areas living environments: dense urban centers, new corridor
l protecting and enhancing a connected network of cities, inviting suburbs, rural communities, and farms.
waterways, wetlands, and other natural areas Agriculture, in fact, thrives in Montgomery County due to
l preserving wetlands and stream quality while the 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, heralded as one of
the best examples of land conservation programs in the
participating in regional and state activities to help
country.
protect the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent
Reservoir In Montgomery County, we take a broad view using a
l providing information about the impact of planned forward-thinking General Plan that envisions development
development on the carbon footprint clustered along major transportation routes interspersed
l researching and promoting green buildings and with areas of low-density development and open space. We
apply those principles with an area-by-area approach to
green urbanism
planning great communities.

Economy Growth along transit

 THE CONTEXT
SUSTAINABILITY The Planning Department is part of The
With vibrant urban centers like Bethesda, Montgomery Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
We plan for sustainable communities and balance every County has become a regional economic force and a Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency
proposed development with its effect on the environment to diverse destination in itself, drawing residents from all over created in 1927 to protect open space and
the globe. Thanks to good planning, the county offers provide planning bordering the nation's
protect and enhance the county's natural resources. Among
historic sites, cultural opportunities, recreational resources, capital.
our programs and activities:
urban villages, and vibrant new downtowns.
l managing the Forest Conservation Program, a
high-profile regulatory program that aims to save The county boasts a progressive government and informed,
and maintain existing forest and plant new forested active, well-educated citizens. It offers a full spectrum of
areas living environments: dense urban centers, new corridor
l protecting and enhancing a connected network of cities, inviting suburbs, rural communities, and farms.
waterways, wetlands, and other natural areas Agriculture, in fact, thrives in Montgomery County due to
l preserving wetlands and stream quality while the 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, heralded as one of
the best examples of land conservation programs in the
participating in regional and state activities to help
country.
protect the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent
Reservoir In Montgomery County, we take a broad view using a
l providing information about the impact of planned forward-thinking General Plan that envisions development
development on the carbon footprint clustered along major transportation routes interspersed
l researching and promoting green buildings and with areas of low-density development and open space. We
apply those principles with an area-by-area approach to
green urbanism
planning great communities.

Economy Growth along transit

 Our master plan program has received
national and local awards for planning
excellence, including a Silver Medal from
the Rudy Bruner Foundation for the
downtown core of Silver Spring and a
national award from the Congress for the
New Urbanism for the Twinbrook Metro
THE WORK Station area. TRANSPORTATION

COMMUNITY VISIONING We use state-of-the-art technology, geometric design, and

We coordinate reviews with other local agencies and planning skills to analyze transportation needs and work
We create great communities, starting with developing
utilities, and public participation is a vital part of our entire with stakeholders to develop solutions. Our analyses
master plans, then reviewing development n and every step
review process. contribute to:
in between. Our master plans and sector plans, developed
with generous community input, guide land use and l countywide growth policies
Our development review staff analyzes detailed project and
establish zoning, environmental features, and transportation programs to reduce travel demand with monitoring
site plans to ensure the compatibility of a proposed project l

and pedestrian mobility. Each master plan describes the and enforcement
with the surrounding neighborhood. Post-approval, we
projects, priorities, and map amendments needed to travel demand forecasts including traffic volumes
inspect sites to enforce Planning Board conditions of l

implement its recommendations.

approval. and transit ridership
DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN l transportation requirements for new development
l county and state facility planning, design review,
We create a quality of place by demanding high-quality and capital program development
projects that carry out our goals, such as: l integrated transportation networks for bikes,
l environmental protection pedestrians, and transit as well as for autos
l affordable housing
l density near transit
l public amenities and open space

We work to ensure conformance with our master plans and

compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

We review:
Project plans
Preliminary plans
Sustainability Site plans Connectivity
Special exceptions
Local map amendments
 Our master plan program has received
national and local awards for planning
excellence, including a Silver Medal from
the Rudy Bruner Foundation for the
downtown core of Silver Spring and a
national award from the Congress for the
New Urbanism for the Twinbrook Metro
THE WORK Station area. TRANSPORTATION

COMMUNITY VISIONING We use state-of-the-art technology, geometric design, and

We coordinate reviews with other local agencies and planning skills to analyze transportation needs and work
We create great communities, starting with developing
utilities, and public participation is a vital part of our entire with stakeholders to develop solutions. Our analyses
master plans, then reviewing development n and every step
review process. contribute to:
in between. Our master plans and sector plans, developed
with generous community input, guide land use and l countywide growth policies
Our development review staff analyzes detailed project and
establish zoning, environmental features, and transportation programs to reduce travel demand with monitoring
site plans to ensure the compatibility of a proposed project l

and pedestrian mobility. Each master plan describes the and enforcement
with the surrounding neighborhood. Post-approval, we
projects, priorities, and map amendments needed to travel demand forecasts including traffic volumes
inspect sites to enforce Planning Board conditions of l

implement its recommendations.

approval. and transit ridership
DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN l transportation requirements for new development
l county and state facility planning, design review,
We create a quality of place by demanding high-quality and capital program development
projects that carry out our goals, such as: l integrated transportation networks for bikes,
l environmental protection pedestrians, and transit as well as for autos
l affordable housing
l density near transit
l public amenities and open space

We work to ensure conformance with our master plans and

compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

We review:
Project plans
Preliminary plans
Sustainability Site plans Connectivity
Special exceptions
Local map amendments
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

8787 Georgia Avenue

Quality of Place
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
www.MontgomeryPlanning.org