Planning department briefs council on housing pipeline, master plans and community outreach

Planning Director Jason Sartore told the council the department is reorganizing to better implement Thrive Montgomery 2050 and increase community engagement, and he previewed ongoing master plans and a housing needs assessment funded in the FY26 budget. "There are 149 plan actions for which we are regularly tracking our progress," Sartore said, and he described the housing needs assessment that will analyze who lives in the county, housing types and future needs through 2050.

Sartore and Planning Board Chair Artie Harris also described a pipeline analysis tracking roughly 30,000 units; the department reported that about 14,700 of those units had all approvals needed to move to permitting, and staff are following up with developers to identify impediments. Council members raised development obstacles such as high construction and borrowing costs, impact taxes and local rent stabilization measures. Sartore said the department is pursuing expedited plan processes (including possible office conversions) and is refining outreach tactics through the Innovation Lab and Community Planning Academy to broaden public participation.

Council discussion also covered master plan timing for Clarksburg Gateway, Germantown and Eastern Silver Spring, and the department noted some items have been delayed for staffing or funding reasons. Sartore said the Germantown and UBC (University Boulevard Corridor) planning efforts are advancing and that the housing pipeline analysis will inform committee presentations later in October.