Current Issues
Open Letter to Council: Halt ZTA’s, October 21, 2022
County Executive Elrich on Thrive 2050, October 20, 2022
Montgomery County Civic Federation (MCCF) Resolution Calling on County Council to Disapprove Thrive Montgomery 2050 and Upzoning
Memorandum from County Executive Marc Elrich, 9/12/22 on the Racial Equity Social Justice (RESJ) Report and recommending they disapprove Thrive
RESJ Report from Nspiregreen
Three new chapters of Thrive Montgomery 2050
More than 3900 residents have serious concerns Re: Thrive 2050
A small, ad hoc group of residents came together to look a little beyond Thrive to some of the upcoming changes in the entire Planning Board/Planning/Parks institutional system, in particular retirements and term limits of key personnel, and necessary actions to restore the integrity of these institutions. Thrive remains part of those concerns.
Our current and incoming council members need to know that we want change and we don’t want to reward current Planning Board members. If you want to get our planning and parks functions back on track, with new leadership and full participation of all residents, please
Council Investigating Complaints, David Lublin, The Seventh State, February 3, 2022
Racial Equity and Social Justice Review Slams Thrive, David Lublin, The Seventh State, February 11
The PHED Committee Draft of Thrive Montgomery has been critiqued from beginning to end with corrections, criticisms, and suggestions for improvement in an impressive analysis by 5 citizens (Amanda Farber, Cheryl Gannon, Joyce Gwadz, Dedun Ingram, and Naomi Spinrad). The main points are summarized in their letter to the County Council. This analysis irrefutably shows that the current draft of Thrive needs substantial revision and is not ready for Council consideration.
For their complete analysis see 1. Introduction, 2. Compact Growth, 3. Complete Communities, 4. Design, Arts, Culture, 5. Transportation, 6. Housing, 7. Parks and Recreation, 8. Conclusion, and 9. Appendices.
Tell Montgomery County Council: Broad Community Input Needed on Residential Zoning Changes
Thrive Coalition Members - Questions regarding the AHS Report for September 9, 2021
Attainable Housing Strategies (AHS) Report for the Planning Board Meeting, September 9, 2021
Download the CCCFH Letter with Questions for the PHED Committee, July 2021
Download the Coalition Letter Re: Thrive Montgomery 2050, July 2021
Download Responses from County Agencies Regarding Thrive
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA),
Department of Transportation (DOT), MC Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), MC Department of Police (MCPD), MC Public Library (MCPL), The Office of Agriculture (OAG),
Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ)
Download Your Copy of the Thrive Flier with Active Links Here! June 2021
Download the UPDATE on Attainable Housing with Active Links Here! May 2021
Download Insightful Letters by Individual Citizens, Fall 2021
River Road, Parks, Seniors, Schools, East, Terms
Download Comments by Other Community Organizations, Fall 2021
Woodside, EPIC, EPIC, Montgomery County Civic Federation Draft Resolution, Montgomery County Civic Federation Draft Approved Resolution,
Montgomery County Civic Federation Hosts Minneapolis Planner to Describe the Pitfalls of Upzoning
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 (now called “attainable” housing, which has not been defined) in neighborhoods of single family detached homes. Attainable 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 “attainable housing” will be built on expensive land and will necessarily be at full market price. CCCFH has submitted testimony to the Montgomery County Planning Board about the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative. CCCFH has also joined in comments and criticisms submitted by a large coalition of community groups.
Zoning Proposals
ZTA 20-07:
Zoning Text Amendment 20-07, introduced by Councilmember Will Jawando, significantly affects neighborhoods that are zoned R-60 (single family detached homes on lots about 60’x100’) and a mile radius from a Metro station. It was originally believed this would provide a source for needed affordable housing. However, CM Jawando has conceded that this amendment will not provide affordable housing but will allow developers to tear down homes that could be affordable as they now exist and, next to single family homes, build duplexes, townhouses, and apartment buildings to be rented or sold at market rate. This is now called “attainable” housing, which has not been defined. The zoning text amendment provides no architectural or design standards to assure the new duplexes, townhouses and apartment buildings have some compatibility with existing single family detached homes. Onsite required parking will be significantly reduced or eliminated for new buildings within a half a mile from Metro stations resulting in more parked cars on neighborhood streets. There is no provision for funding the needed infrastructure, schools, green space, or storm water management, etc.
Read the full text of ZTA 20-07
Zoning Text Amendment Draft for Missing Middle Optional Method Development, March 4th, 2021.
This is the response of Councilmembers Hucker and Reimer to ZTA20-07. They decided to take it a step further. This ZTA opens up more single family detached home areas: those zoned R-40, R-60, R-90 and R-200 as well as townhouse zones to developing Missing Middle Housing. The ZTA allows significantly increased heights up to 45 feet and normal setbacks are reduced. It encourages duplexes, triplexes (three townhouses), apartment buildings (four-unit apartments are quadraplexes) in single family home neighborhoods and along certain corridors within a stated distance of proposed rapid transit. There are no financial provisions for impacts to schools, green space, or additional traffic and parking on neighborhood streets.
Examples of “Missing Middle Housing” and or “Affordable Housing,” and or proposed “Attainable Housing”
Pictured: duplexes, triplexes (three townhouses), apartment buildings (four-unit apartments are quadraplexes) in single family home neighborhoods and along certain corridors within a stated distance of proposed rapid transit.
Communicate with your Elected Officials
Contact County Council to share your perspective and
OBJECT TO PROPOSED THRIVE MONTGOMERY PLAN AND ZONING CHANGES
.
Councilmember.Hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.albornoz@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Katz@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Rice@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov
Opportunities to Testify
The Montgomery County Council held a hearing on the Thrive Montgomery 2050 Plan on June 17th. Listen to a recording of the hearing.
The Planning Board held a virtual public meeting on the Attainable Housing Strategies initiative on June 24th. Listen to a recording of the meeting.