Thrive Montgomery 2050

An Overview of Thrive Montgomery 2050

Thrive Montgomery Plan

Thrive Montgomery 2050 (TM2050) is the proposed County plan to guide land use, zoning and housing among other elements, for the next three decades. A main thrust of TM2050 is to increase housing density by allowing Missing Middle Housing in neighborhoods of single family detached homes. Missing Middle Housing consists of such buildings as duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, apartment buildings with fewer than 20 units and condominiums. Although proposed as a means to provide more affordable housing, county planning officials have now conceded such housing instead will rent or sell at market rates. It will not answer the demand for affordable housing, because Missing Middle Housing will be built on expensive land and will necessarily be at full market price.

TM2050 and proposed implementing zoning code amendments (full text of ZTA 20-07) do not require architectural or design standards to assure these different types of buildings have some semblance of compatibility with existing single family homes in the neighborhood. Nor are there provisions for neighborhood homeowners to be notified of proposed new, large structures or an opportunity for substantive input on design.

A central vision of TM2050 is to create “complete communities” in existing neighborhoods where driving  and parking are difficult so that people are instead constrained to walk, bike or “roll” to shop for groceries, go to restaurants, and get to jobs, and if ever built, to go to parks and public facilities. Many question whether this is a realistic or desirable change for our neighborhoods. The County Council is rushing to approve TM2050. A public hearing will be held June 17th on TM2050 with adoption of some form likely this summer. For the full text of the proposed plan to be heard before the Council on June 17th. Full text: Thrive Montgomery Plan