Council approves comments to county on Friendship Heights Sector Plan; residents warn against tall buildings

The Friendship Heights Village Council voted unanimously to transmit comments to the Montgomery County Planning Board on the preliminary recommendations for the Friendship Heights Sector Plan, after residents and council members raised concerns that proposed height overlays could harm green space, shade nearby retirement communities and change neighborhood character.

Council member Connell moved that the council approve the comments and asked the mayor to transmit them to the planning board; the motion passed without recorded opposition. The approved comments express the village’s objections to proposed high-rise heights on Parcel 6 and Parcel 4 and urge preservation of trees, sunlight and the low-scale character near existing housing.

Multiple public commenters emphasized those points. Susan Green, a Willoughby owner, told the council she feared a "200-foot" height overlay down Willard Avenue would "turn upside down the promise" reflected in earlier sector plans and "devalue" residents’ views. Another commenter, Roger Cocheti, urged the council to press the county to preserve open green space, saying the village should present a strong, comprehensive case to planning staff and the planning board.

Council members said they would continue to press county planners and noted a community meeting on the GEICO redevelopment scheduled for Feb. 19 at Westland Middle School. Mayor Schaffer said the village attorney was preparing a letter and that the council would continue to submit additional comments as the process unfolds.

The council directed the mayor to transmit the approved comments by noon the following day and asked staff to coordinate timing and distribution.