Montgomery Planning proposes web tools and clearer labels to show master-plan updates

Montgomery County Planning presented a package of website tools aimed at helping residents understand when approved master plans have been changed by later actions and where to find up-to-date street-classification and bicycle-network information.

Chris Pfeiffer, communications and engagement chief for Montgomery Planning, told the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee the department has added a "planning resources" component to community master-plan pages that includes links to the planned streets classification map, the planned bicycle network map and development and zoning pages. "On the screen, you'll see a screenshot of an active master plan page," Pfeiffer said, adding that links can be made more customizable so "it would take you right to that spot on the map for each of these pages."

The change responds to a recent Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) suggestion that residents cannot easily tell if a static plan posted on the website has later been amended elsewhere. One committee member warned that a visitor might read the posted resolution and assume it reflects current policy. "The static document that you're on the homepage for has changed, and if you would like to see the most recent street classification or development, click here," that committee member said, urging an explicit signal on plan pages.

Pam (committee member) recommended adding dates to linked elements so users can quickly see that a zoning or text amendment is later than the master-plan date: "Even adding dates to these might, quickly jar your recognition that something's changed." Several committee members asked legal staff to clarify whether the body can alter the text of an adopted resolution on the county website or whether the legally adopted document must remain as originally approved with a separate, "living" view showing subsequent modifications.

Jason Sartore, the Planning Director, said the department sees the website changes as an interim step and acknowledged work remains to show precisely how one plan was modified by another: "It's much more harder for us to go through and say, okay this plan that was adopted in 1989 has been amended by, oh, maybe 15 other plans that have come since."

Committee members asked Planning to bring legal guidance and additional explanatory text when staff returns with a refined proposal. The committee thanked OLO and Planning for the work and asked staff to consider adding clear dates, links and explanatory boxes so residents and applicants can follow the "breadcrumbs" from approved master-plan text to any later amendments. The department indicated such refinements and more frequent quality checks are planned.