Planning staff outlines 2026 work program; commission honors Brian Rice
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Summary
Planning staff presented the 2026 work program — including adoption of Montgomery Matters, SmartScale applications, village and zoning work, and housing initiatives — and the commission presented a resolution of appreciation recognizing Brian Rice's service to the commission since 2014.
Chair Foster presented a resolution of appreciation honoring Brian Rice for his service to the Montgomery County Planning Commission since 2014, noting Rice's terms as vice chair and chair. Rice accepted the resolution and thanked the commission.
Miss Hopkins summarized the planning department's 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities. She said staff engaged over 1,000 citizens through the Montgomery Matters process, visited six village areas and drafted plan goals and objectives, and added two roads (Evergreen Trail and Buck Mountain Ridge in Brush Mountain Estates) to the state network via the rural addition program. Hopkins said transportation projects were added to the county Capital Improvements Program so Montgomery County can better compete for state funding, and staff will pursue three SmartScale pre-applications: Mary Mack/Price's Fork intersection and two Vicker Switch intersections on Route 114.
For housing and zoning, Hopkins said the county will continue work with housing trust committees and expects legislation from the General Assembly to prompt related text amendments. Staff also plans a zoning ordinance rewrite to align zoning districts with the comprehensive plan's action items and to clarify and consolidate uses. Hopkins said the department will likely seek two planning-commission representatives to work with staff on the zoning project between work sessions.
Hopkins noted other deliverables for 2026: pursuing alternative funding sources for priority projects, completing SmartScale pre-applications, continuing transportation planning and training opportunities for commissioners, and hiring for a Planner I position (previously the transportation planning role). She closed by reminding commissioners of upcoming village meetings and the regional training schedule.
Next steps: staff will continue the listed work-program items, return with progress reports and public hearings for Montgomery Matters and other items, and advertise the Planner I vacancy.
