Board adopts parts 1–4 of "Montgomery Matters" comprehensive plan after extensive public engagement

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on March 23 the adoption of parts 1 through 4 of the county’s new comprehensive plan, "Montgomery Matters," with an intended effective date of July 1.

Planning staff said the plan represents roughly 18 months of outreach: two large open houses, three online surveys (with paper options through libraries), 25 stakeholder meetings, 11 public intercepts, eight citizen‑steering‑committee meetings and multiple planning‑commission work sessions. "This plan is citizen driven," project manager Justin Sanders told the board, and staff said the planning commission recommended approval unanimously.

Staff highlighted four cross‑cutting themes—intentionality, accessibility, collaboration and resilience—and four near‑term "prime transformations" for the next one to five years: a zoning rewrite (the current ordinance dates to 1999), a parks and recreation master plan, a countywide interconnected trail network, and a growth strategy focused on concentrating growth rather than sprawl.

Justin Sanders said part 5 of the plan, covering village and small‑area plans and future‑land‑use maps for identified growth areas (Bethel and Merrimack), remains in development; staff will return to the board with those maps and additional hearings later this year.

The unanimous vote followed staff presentations and a record of no public speakers at the planning commission hearing. The board thanked staff and the citizen steering committee by name.

What happens next Adoption of parts 1–4 sets the policy framework for later small‑area plans and the forthcoming zoning rewrite; staff said they aim to return the future‑land‑use map for public hearings in June and to begin a zoning‑ordinance update in 2027.