PHED Committee to Review Proposed Zoning Changes

The Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee at 9:30 a.m. on June 28, will continue its extensive review of the first proposed major changes in the County Zoning Ordinance since 1978. At Friday’s worksession, the committee will focus on proposed changes for Commercial Residential (CR) zones, which include a mix of uses. Among the topics of discussion will be whether developers should be allowed to have more density in their projects if they agree to increase the minimal number of Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs).

The PHED Committee, which is chaired by Nancy Floreen and includes Councilmembers Marc Elrich and George Leventhal, will be meeting regularly through September to review the changes in the zoning ordinance that have been suggested by the County’s Planning Board. The committee will use the worksessions to make recommendations to the full Council, which will eventually decide what changes will be implemented.

The PHED Committee will meet in the Seventh Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville, will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The broadcast also will be streamed through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.

Detailed information about the zoning rewrite can be found at a new site that is part of the Council home page at:
http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/csltmpl.asp?url=/content/Council/Zoning_Rewrite_index.asp .

Development in CR zones has become increasingly popular in Montgomery County. A CR zone allows for housing, retail, office, restaurant and entertainment uses to be close to each other, helping create walkable communities less dependent on personal vehicle transportation.

The worksession on Friday also will focus on whether developers should be required to provide additional public benefits with projects compared to current requirements. Another subject to be addressed is whether developers should be permitted additional density if they agree to provide additional public benefits.

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