Planning commission recommends adoption of "Montgomery Matters" comprehensive plan to Board of Supervisors

Planning staff presented the draft Montgomery Matters comprehensive plan, summarizing a 23-month process that included extensive public engagement: 11 public intercepts, more than 1,400 survey responses, four open houses, more than 120 stakeholder meetings and eight citizen steering committee meetings. The plan is organized into five parts: the plan/process; outdoors and culture; community development (including land use, housing, transportation and economic resources); health and services (education, public safety and infrastructure); and part five, a suite of village plans and the future land-use map still under development.

Staff emphasized four "prime transformations" the plan is meant to advance over the next 20 years: a zoning ordinance rewrite, a parks master plan, a countywide interconnected trail network and a strategy to encourage growth "in, not out," focusing development in towns and designated growth areas. The presentation included participation and technical support from consultants and staff and noted the plan will guide capital investments and inform future zoning updates. Staff proposed a recommended adoption with an effective date of July 1 to allow village planning and the future land-use map to be completed and integrated into the new fiscal year.

After a brief public hearing (no speakers), commissioners discussed whether adopting the countywide framework now is appropriate before part five (village plans and a precise future land-use map) is complete; staff explained part five will follow and that the comprehensive plan provides the high-level framework to guide those more detailed maps. The commission moved and voted to recommend adoption to the Board of Supervisors. The motion carried unanimously. Next steps include completing village plans and developing an interpretation policy tying older zoning categories to the new plan until a full zoning rewrite is complete.