Council approves zoning and map amendments, introduces revised leaf‑blower enforcement bill

At its Sept. 30 session the Montgomery County Council advanced multiple land‑use items and introduced a revised noise‑control enforcement bill.

The council voted unanimously to approve Zoning Text Amendment 25‑09 with an amendment that broadened the definition of alkaline hydrolysis so the land‑use category would not unintentionally exclude animal applications. Planning, Housing and Parks committee chair summarized that the committee recommended approval (3‑0) and noted that the state regulates the technical standards while the county provides the land‑use option.

Two local map amendments were approved by roll call. LMAH‑155 (Pike Center, 12101 Rockville Pike) received the hearing examiner’s recommendation to rezone a shopping center into a commercial‑residential floating zone with phased redevelopment: staff said the project could yield about 760 multifamily units with 15% MPDUs and roughly 90,000 square feet of nonresidential space over a multiyear buildout. LMAH‑157 (Paramount Self Storage) was approved to allow redevelopment of an aging self‑storage site consistent with the Shady Grove Sector Plan.

The council also introduced expedited Bill 30‑25 addressing noise control and enforcement for gas‑powered leaf‑blowing equipment; committee chair Glass said the revision removes a requirement that neighbors take photographs to document violations, citing concerns about the immigration climate and the county’s large Latino and immigrant landscaping workforce. Staff noted the bill also simplifies the process to file a single noise complaint.

Several supplemental and operating budget appropriations on the consent calendar and later agenda were approved by unanimous voice vote. The council recessed earlier for a Hispanic Heritage Month program and reconvened for afternoon public hearings.

Votes, roll‑call tallies and related motions were reflected in the clerk’s roll calls during the meeting record.