Montrose residents press council to drop proposed medium‑density rezoning for Martha Terrace

Dozens of Montrose neighborhood residents told the Rockville City Council on Jan. 27 that proposed rezonings in Planning Area 10 would worsen traffic, reduce parking and accelerate displacement.

The most sustained public testimony came during the community forum portion of the meeting, where Natasha Horwitz of the Montrose Civic Association warned that "new buildings come with new prices" and said her neighbors fear the loss of affordability, increased traffic and a reduction in green and public space if the zoning changes go forward. Geoffrey Gans, who lives at the corner of Evelyn Drive and Rollins Avenue, described heavy cut‑through traffic on Rollins and Evelyn and said the streets are already struggling to accommodate emergency vehicles. "This street is not in any way capable of carrying any more traffic than it does already," Gans said.

Kathy Stein, a nearly 30‑year resident who raised a daughter on Evelyn Drive,…