Committee backs changes to Bethesda overlay ZTA, forwards amended ZTA 25-04 to full council

The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee on June 9 agreed to a package of amendments to Zoning Text Amendment 25-04 (Bethesda overlay zone) and will forward the amended ZTA to the full County Council for consideration. Committee members said the changes implement decisions made during the Bethesda Master Plan process and aim to remove outdated provisions while preserving public benefits and review safeguards.

The ZTA revisions endorsed by the committee include allowing existing Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) incentives to apply to family-sized units (typically three or more bedrooms) and to deeply affordable units; changing the rules for purchasing additional residential density so applicants can use either the commercial or the residential allotment rather than being required to consume both; and removing the “use-or-lose” permit-deadline provision tied to a density cap that the county has eliminated.

The committee also approved replacing a revised height-incentive map with the prior map after committee members said the planning board altered the map late in the process without sufficient opportunity for stakeholder input. That amendment removes language that would have expanded the height-incentive area a few blocks east of Arlington Road.

Council staff…