| The Montgomery County Planning Board will not meet on December 28, 2017 and January 4, 2018. |
Working Draft of the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways Presented to Planning Board on December 21
Board on Thursday, December 21, 2017.
The plan proposes updating the county's road and transitway network master plan with recommendations that range from road classification changes to Urban Road Code boundary changes in an effort to bring the MPOHT into conformance with the Montgomery County Code. It is the first time that such a comprehensive update has been done in more than 60 years. The Bicycle Master Plan Working Draft, currently being reviewed by the Planning Board, is independent from this document.
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Planning Board Approves Plans for New Marriott International Headquarters in Downtown Bethesda on December 14
The Montgomery County Planning Board approved plans for the Marriott International headquarters to be constructed in downtown Bethesda. The new building, designed by Gensler of Washington, DC, will occupy a site at Wisconsin and Norfolk Avenues near the Bethesda Metro Station. The company is currently headquartered on Fernwood Road in Bethesda, near the intersection of Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway.Marriott's sketch plan, preliminary plan and site plan applications were reviewed by Planning Department staff under the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan and Bethesda Downtown Design Guidelines.
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Montgomery Planning Board Appoints Implementation Advisory Committee for Monitoring Progress of Development in Downtown Bethesda
The Montgomery County Planning Board appointed 14 members to the new Bethesda Downtown Implementation Advisory Committee on Thursday, December 7, 2017, including seven members from the property owner/business community and seven local residents. At the meeting, Planning Department staff briefed the Board about the creation of an online program to track future development in downtown Bethesda, since the plan limits the amount of density allowed. The guidelines intended to be used by the Planning Board and staff in the implementation of the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan were also discussed. |
Planning Department Will Present Cutting-Edge Concepts and Projects at National Conference of American Planning Association
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Deadline for Proposals Extended for Makeover Montgomery 4
The conference will be held from May 9 through May 11, 2018 in College Park and Silver Spring, MD. It will bring together planners, architects, developers, real estate professionals, economists, social scientists, ecologists and others to discuss cutting-edge ideas for transforming the suburbs. Conference presentation proposals are now being sought. Participants should base their presentations on four themes: Healthy, Smart, Inclusive and Competitive Communities. The deadline for submitting presentation proposals online is January 12, 2018.
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Planning Board Schedules January 25 Public Hearing for Bicycle Master Plan  The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Working Draft as the Public Hearing Draft for the Bicycle Master Plan at its meeting on Thursday, December 7. The Board's public hearing for the Bicycle Master Plan is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) when the community is invited to comment on the Plan's recommendations.
The public is also invited to submit comments about the Bicycle Master Plan via email to mcp-chair@mncppc.org. These comments will become part of the public testimony and public record for the Plan. |
 Garden of Lights Exhibit
Open nightly through January 1, 2018 Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens has delighted families nightly with its imaginative and illuminated forms that help usher in the holiday season. Dress warmly and plan to spend about one-hour walking through the gardens and see over one million lights transform the gardens into whimsical winter scenes. But the fun doesn't stop outdoors. The conservatory features G-scale model trains racing through a wintry landscape. And no wintertime shindig would be complete without mugs of piping hot cocoa, s'mores and live musical performances at the Visitors Center. |
 Updated M-NCPPC Parks Rules & Regulations Are In Effect Updates to the M-NCPPC Rules & Regulations will improve access to parks and amenities and provide greater flexibility in the rules. |
 Upper Paint Branch Limited Area Trail Plan Montgomery Parks Staff is seeking public feedback on the preliminary recommendations on a new Natural Surface Trail Plan in the Upper Paint Branch area. Your input will help us make this the best plan possible for the Paint Branch area.
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Festivals and Events  Looking for a different type of fun for the entire family? Maybe, a new experience in your backyard? Montgomery Parks has all the excitement just around the corner. Check out our Festivals and Events Page for all the happenings. Don't miss a chance to see what Montgomery Parks has for you! - Experience a rich and inviting interactive exhibit at Brookside Nature Center. Created by the Franklin Institute, the exhibit will run through January 5, 2018 daily. Come out and be inspired by the Harvard classic, "A Forest Journey: The Role of Wood in the Development of Civilization", by science writer John Perlin. It will shed new light on the history of the use of wood throughout the world, on forest products (from paper to lifesaving pharmaceuticals) and on the relationship between forests and the benefits of trees.
- Pop Up in Montgomery Parks- Montgomery Parks is aiming to attract more people to our parks - particularly our urban parks in the densely populated parts of Montgomery County. So, we are bringing fun and free "Pop Up" programming to select parks all winter, including Movie Night, Cozy Community Day, Rock Wall and our new Pump Track! Check out our upcoming programs taking place this fall.
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Community Meetings and News
Make plans to attend upcoming community meetings. Park Staff will be presenting plans for upcoming project renovations and scheduled improvements to the parks. The community is encouraged to attend these meetings and provide input on the upcoming projects: -
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- Parks staff hosted a Public Meeting on the interim plan to improve Wall Local Park at the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center. Under the guidance of the current White Flint Sector Plan, Parks staff presented the interim plan to the park as well as reviewed future plans to the park that will feature the realignment of Executive Boulevard and Market Street. Also presented were plans to construct a new parking garage. Visit the park project page for more information.
- A Second Community Meeting for the renovation plans to improve Acorn Urban Park was held at the Eastern Village Cohousing Common House in Silver Spring. Park staff presented the preliminary concepts for the park and seek community input. Visit the Acorn Urban Park project page for more information.
- Parks staff recently presented amendments to the North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail Plan to the Montgomery County Planning Board. The proposed amendments include relocating the project's parking lot and trailhead from Muncaster Mill Road to Meadowside Lane, removing a bridge crossing near Meadowside Nature Center, and adding a bridge crossing just south of the Intercounty Connector. For additional information about the project, please visit the project page.
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Accessibility Improvements Continue |
Emerald Ash Borer in Montgomery Parks  A non-native invasive beetle in Montgomery County is wreaking havoc on ash trees, many which are in stream valleys on parkland. Learn more on how the department is addressing the issue. |
Bikers and Runners should use caution around work areas as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks:  - Trail work is underway on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail that may interrupt trail use. Parks will be installing a 20' span steel truss bridge on Beach Drive between Old Spring Road and Stoneybrook Drive. The project will have a temporary mulch path detour at the project site to safely allow trail users continued use of the trail.
- Work to repair boardwalk and bridge on the Matthew Henson Trail is starting this fall. The work area is near Grenoble Drive and Turkey Branch Parkway. The trail section is currently inaccessible. Please use caution when seeking alternate routes. Vehicles should share the roadway at all times.
- Trail improvements on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail near Parklawn Local Park continue. The project includes a new connector to the trail, bridge installation, stream sediment control and storm water management when complete.
- Share the Trail - A section of the Cabin John Trail now allows bikes. Montgomery Parks has recently authorized a section of the trail from the trailhead across Goya Road to the parking area on Seven Locks Road, by the 495 overpass of the Cabin John Trail to be accessible to hikers/walkers and bikers. All trail users should share the trail and always yield to the appropriate trail users.
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WSSC work to improve stormwater management and sediment control will be starting at this fall on the Northwest Branch Trail SVU#3 area. The project requires heavy excavating equipment to be delivered so workers will need to use the trail to gain access. Park patrons should use caution around designated work areas.
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  The 2017 Winter Program GUIDE is here! |
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