For Immediate Release: Monday, September 18, 2017
White Flint 2 Sector Plan
Public Hearing on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Also on Tuesday, September 19:
Human trafficking prevention and
Bethesda Downtown Master Plan Sectional Map Amendment
ROCKVILLE, Md., September 18, 2017—The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19 on the White Flint 2 Sector Plan, which complements the 2010 White Flint Sector Plan. The White Flint 2 Sector Plan recommends opportunities for transitional development in key areas where the White Flint Sector Plan is adjacent to the Twinbrook Sector Plan and the pending City of Rockville plan for Rockville Pike (MD 355). It includes large commercial shopping centers, an office park, light industrial properties, and residential development that would support a broad range of affordable housing options.
The Council will receive an overview of the White Flint 2 Sector Plan at 10:30 a.m. in the Third Floor Council Hearing Room. The public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Council Hearing Room.
The 460-acre sector plan would transform commercial properties along Rockville Pike into mixed-use urban spaces. Two major roadways, Rockville Pike (MD 355) and Montrose Parkway, bisect the bowtie-shaped sector plan area north to south and east to west, respectively. The plan would link MD 355 with a proposed network of bike lanes and public open spaces, and would also take advantage of future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on MD 355. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is currently planning its BRT system routes, with the first such route expected to become operational in 2020.
The staff report can be viewed at:
http://montgomerycountymd.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=169&event_id=7204&meta_id=142986
The Council will have a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Bill 27-17, Human Rights and Civil Liberties – Human Trafficking Prevention Committee – Established, along with several other bills and zoning text amendments. Bill 27-17, which is sponsored by Council President Berliner on behalf of the County Executive, would establish the Human Trafficking Prevention Committee, define the membership of the Committee, and define the duties and responsibilities of the Committee.
The issue of human trafficking has gained prominence in recent years, and because of the gravity of the issue the County has taken a proactive stance on addressing it. In 2014 the County Executive created the County Human Trafficking Task Force to increase understanding of the issue in Montgomery County and to develop inter-agency coordination of strategies for response and prevention. The County’s Human Trafficking Prevention Committee would go a step further, having the ability, as a permanent committee created by law, to officially advise the County Executive and the Council on developing methods for prevention.
The staff report can be viewed at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/bill/2017/Packets/20170919_11.pdf
The Council is also scheduled to vote on the Bethesda Downtown Master Plan Sectional Map Amendment (H-122) at 10:15 a.m., which would put into effect zoning changes recommended in the plan. It would rezone approximately 205 acres and reconfirm the zoning on 246 acres. The Bethesda Downtown Master Plan is a 20-year plan for the development of Bethesda organized around the themes of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
The staff report can be viewed at:
http://montgomerycountymd.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=169&event_id=7204&meta_id=142984
The afternoon Council meeting and evening public hearing will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM). The channel can be viewed on Cable Channels 996 (high definiti-on) and 6 (standard definition) on Comcast; Channels 1056 (HD) and 6 (SD) on RCN; and Channel 30 on Verizon.
The session also will be available live via streaming through the Council web site at http://tinyurl.com/z9982v8 .
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Release ID: 17-279