Press Releases

Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on October 10, 2022

For Immediate Release: Friday, October 7, 2022

Committees will review legislation to promote community-informed policing, receive an update on crime statistics, review zoning for antennas on existing structures and measures needed to implement the Complete Streets Design Guide

The Public Safety (PS) Committee will meet on Monday, Oct. 10, at 9:30 a.m. to review Bill 17-21, Police – Community Informed Police Training, and receive an update on crime statistics.

The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz, Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmember Tom Hucker.

The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. to discuss ZTA 22-01, Antenna on Existing Structure – Use Standards, and receive an update from the County Executive on the status of the Pole Attachment License Agreement for 5G deployment.

The members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.

The Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss Bill 24-22, Streets and Roads, Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-10 and Subdivision Regulation Amendment (SRA) 22-01, which together, make changes to several chapters of the County Code to implement the Complete Streets Design Guide. 

The members of the T&E Committee include Chair Hucker, Council Vice President Evan Glass and Councilmember Riemer.

More detail on each agenda item is provided below. 

Bill 17-21, Police - Community Informed Police Training

Review: The PS Committee will review Bill 17-21, Police – Community Informed Police Training, introduced by lead sponsor Councilmember Jawando. Councilmember Riemer is a cosponsor of the legislation.

The purpose of the bill is to create partnerships between the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and local educational institutions to recruit and train police officers in a manner that promotes community-informed policing.

Bill 17-21 would create new requirements related to the recruitment, training and continuing education of police officers. In addition, the bill would require MCPD to collaborate and partner with local educational institutions to expand the recruitment of police cadets who reflect the diversity of the County, sponsor communication sessions with prospective cadets and community members and develop internship programs for prospective cadets.

Crime Statistics and Violent Crime Trends

Briefing: The PS Committee will receive an update from MCPD on crime statistics including violent crime trends. The briefing will include information on the increase in violent crime, crimes with firearms, including homicides, contact shootings, firearm discharges and firearm recoveries, carjackings, domestic violence, drug arrests, overdoses and non-violent crime trends. MCPD will also provide updates on the various efforts the department has undertaken to address violent crime.

ZTA 22-01, Antenna on Existing Structure - Use Standards

Review: The PHED Committee will review ZTA 22-01, Antenna on Existing Structure – Use Standards, which would change the current setback for an antenna on existing structures from the current 60 feet to 30 feet, so that these antennas are treated similarly to telecommunications towers. At this meeting, the committee will review several amendments  proposed in order to place the same restrictions on antenna on existing structures that were placed on telecommunications towers in ZTA 19-07. 

In July 2021, the Council adopted ZTA 19-07, Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use, which revised the standards for telecommunications towers allowed as a limited or conditional use and generally amended the use requirements. ZTA 19-07 did not make any changes to antennas on existing structures, which is a different use in the Zoning Ordinance with separate provisions. Relevant to ZTA 22-01, the setback for a telecommunications tower in the Agricultural, Rural Residential, and Residential Zones was reduced to 30 feet.

Bill 24-22, ZTA 22-10 and SRA 22-01, Streets and Roads

Introduction: The T&E Committee will review Bill 24-22, Streets and Roads, ZTA 22-10 and SRA 22-01, which together, make changes to several chapters of the County Code to implement the Complete Streets Design Guide. 

Bill 24-22 revises Chapter 49, Streets and Roads, to apply complete streets standards to the design and construction of roads and road improvements. The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the County Executive.

ZTA 22-10 revises Chapter 59, the Zoning Ordinance, by replacing the existing road types referenced throughout with the new Complete Streets Design Guide road types. The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the Planning Board.

SRA 22-01 revises Chapter 50, Subdivision of Land, by updating the standards for intersection spacing, providing new guidance on protected intersections and replacing all occurrences of existing street types with the new street typologies from the Complete Streets Design Guide. The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the Request of the Planning Board.

The goal of these recommended changes is to better address modern transportation needs. Complete Streets are roadways that are designed and operated to provide safe and accessible travel options for all roadway system users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists.

The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

The Council recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council or committee meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Release ID: 22-344
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884