Germantown Forward
Work is underway to update the 1989 Germantown Master Plan. The Planning Board has been holding worksessions since October 2007, and currently anticipates releasing a Draft Plan in late spring or early summer. The County Council adjusts the Master Plan schedule in April and October each year when the Planning Board gives its semi-annual report.
The Germantown Citizen Forum, on May 31, 2006 at the Black Rock Center of the Arts, was the kick-off event for resuming work on revising the 1989 Germantown Master Plan. A panel of community leaders led residents and business and government representatives in discussing Germantown issues and their desires for its future.
Check our Calendar for upcoming meetings, and see the results from past meetings below.
What's New
- Upcoming dates to note: May 22, 2008, staff anticipates that the Planning Board will approve advertising for a public hearing. On May 23, 2008, the Hearing Draft is expected to be released.
- Read the final draft study of the MD 355/I-270 report (pdf, 1.6 MB), presented to the Planning Board on January 24, 2008.
- CCT Project Update from the CCT Coalition: Governor Martin O’Malley has included $80 million in engineering funds for the CCT in the 2008-2013 Consolidated Transportation Program.
- The comment period is now closed on the Midcounty Corridor Study. Review the alternatives and those recommended by retained for detailed study here: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/midcountycorridorstudy . For more information, contact Greg Hwang, Senior Planning Specialist, Montgomery County DPWT, Greg.Hwang@montgomerycountymd.gov.
- Read the Maryland Historical Trust Determination of Eligibility Form for the Department of Energy.
- In the news:
- The Capital Improvement Program budget includes funds for the Plum Gar Community Center, the East and West Germantown Fire Stations, Montgomery College, trails renovations at Black Hill Regional Park, an extension of Father Hurley Boulevard and more. Read the Jan 23, 2008 Gazette article, Plum Gar, police station recommented for CIP funding.
- Group hopes to build an arena in Germantown - read the Gazette article: County Picks its Partner for Arena Plan.
- The Gazette article, CCT may get new route by town hub, summarizes the CCT meeting held in December 2007.
- Track discussions by topic on the CAC's summary table.
Calendar
May 22, 2008
Staff anticipates that the Planning Board will approve advertising for a public hearing.
May 23, 2008
The Germantown Hearing Draft is expected to be released. Distribution of the Draft Plan will be in CD format. A limited number of printed Hearing Draft Plans will be places on reserve at County libraries and other facilities.
June 10, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting at the Upcounty Services Center
June 30, 2008 - Time TBD
Public Hearing. M-NCPPC Auditorium, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
July and September, 2008
Worksessions. M-NCPPC Auditorium, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
Late September, 2008
Transmit the Planning Board Draft to the County Executive and County Council
Information from Previous Meetings 
May 8, 2008 - 2:00 p.m.
The Planning Board reviewed the Germantown land use rationale and the district, transportation and design recommendations. Click here to read the staff report and listen to a recording of the discussion (Item 12), and click here to view the presentation given by staff (pdf, 8.5 MB).
April 8, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting included a presentation by the new M-NCPPC Planning Director, Rollin Stanley, and a presentation and discussion on roads in Germantown.
March 27, 2008 - 11:00 a.m.
The Planning Board considered the general land use and environmental recommendations for the master plan, and requested an extended session in which to hear testimony--no date has yet been set. Click here to read the staff report and listen to a recording of the discussion (Item 6). and click here to view the presentation to the Planning Board.
March 11, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting previewed the general land use and zoning recommendations to be given to the Planning Board on March 27. View the presentation, with notes from the CAC members and other attendees here (pdf, 3.7 MB).
March 6, 2008
The Planning Board approved staff recommendations for an Amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. This approval included two sites in Germantown: the Little Seneca Viaduct, B&O Railroad and the Germantown Culvert, B&O Railroad. The staff report can be read here (Item 11).
February 26, 2008 - 7:00 p.m
CAC meeting at the Upcounty Services Center.
Historic Preservation: Read the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form for the Germantown Presbyterian Church (pdf, 3.3 MB), and read a letter sent to the CAC (pdf, 629 KB) by Perrine Planning & Zoning, Inc., on behalf of the owner.
Zoning: Read the Briefing on Potential Strategies for Solving the TDR Absorption Issues (pdf, 1.3 MB) or listen to the discussion with the Planning Board (Item 15).
February 6, 2008 - 10:30 a.m.
Zoning meeting with preliminary zoning recommendations, an expanded discussion of the TOMX-1 zone and an update about the CCT alignment discussions.
January 22, 2008, 2008 - 2:00 p.m.
Rescheduled zoning meeting at the Upcounty Services Center: TOMX-1 zone, Planning Board comments, TDRs, MPDUs
January 14, 2008 - 3:00 p.m.
DPWT held a Public Hearing on the vicinity of Father Hurley and Century Boulevards at the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, First Floor, Rockville. For more, contact the project manager, Yasamin Esmaili.
January 8, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting at the Upcounty Services Center. Clare Kelly presented the three historic resources for Germantown that were evaluated by the Historic Preservation Commission on December 19, 2007 (pdf, 11.8 MB - note that the presentation also includes four resources outside of Germantown).
December 19, 2007 - 7:30 p.m., M-NCPPC, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring
The Historic Preservation Commission will evaluate three historic resources in Germantown for designation on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation: the Little Seneca Viaduct, B&O Railroad; the Germantown Culvert, B&O Railroad; and Germantown Presbyterian Church. The agenda is posted here. Read or download the staff report. Read more in an article in the Gazette, Germantown railroad sites may get historic designation.
December 17, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
The second Planning Board update on this master plan was held in Germantown at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. If you weren't able to be there, you may view the presentation here (pdf), read the staff report here (pdf), and listen to a recording of the meeting by selecting from the following: Part 1, Part 2, (mp3--to save to your computer, right-click).
December 12, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
The Midcounty Corridor Study Public Workshop was held in Germantown at Seneca Valley High School.
For more info, including background, maps and the alternatives under consideration, go to:
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/midcountycorridorstudy
December 11, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting to preview the items to be covered at the Planning Board session on December 17, 2007 - capacity testing for transportation and schools, plus urban design and open space concepts. See the December 17 presentation, above.
December 6, 2007 - 2:00 p.m.
CCT alignment meeting #2 with Rick Kiegel of MTA. Note: Kiegel advised the attendees that studies of alignment modifications are begining so as to consider alternatives to crossing the DOE site, which is potentially historic. The Gazette article, CCT may get new route by town hub, summarizes the meeting. The discussion will continue in January.
December 4, 2007 - 2:00 p.m.
Zoning meeting: Discuss TOMX zones and interim uses. Upcounty Services Center
November 13 , 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting with two items:
- Brief staff presentation on the adopted Growth Policy by Eric Graye, followed by a Q&A about the impact on Germantown East. Read the County Council packet (pdf).
- Presentations by property owners on possible development scenarios. Summary. Map.
October 18, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. 
Planning Board Roundtable on the Germantown Master Plan
Read the staff report (pdf, 13.5 MB) and view the staff presentation (pdf, 3.6 MB)
October 10, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Updating the Germantown Alliance on current Master Plan activities.
October 9, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting on Germantown as the Upcounty Cultural Center. Discussions about the present and future of BlackRock Center for the Arts (presentation by Nancy Petrisko) and the Germantown Library. Meeting notes (pdf, 104 KB)
September 19, 2007
Churchill Senior Living: What Do You Like About Germantown? (pdf, 103 KB)
September 18, 2007
Mother Seton Parish: Land use scenarios (see presentation below).
Sept 11, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
CAC meeting on Land Use Scenarios. The staff presentation (pdf, 4.2 MB) introduces the land use concepts, themes, scenarios and next steps. The feedback notes (pdf, 135 KB, updated with reference numbers) as requested by the CAC cover the discussion about the presentation by the CAC members and other attendees.
July 26, 2007
Identity Students: What Do You Like About Germantown? (pdf, 154 KB)
July 10, 2007
CAC meeting on Economic Development.The DED Overview Presentation (pdf, 2.5 MB) compiles data, questions and feedback gained from large and small businesses located in Germantown. Raul Medrano, a Germantown resident and Business Development Specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, presented the overview to the Germantown CAC.
June 6, 2007
Germantown Business District Focus Group - Growth Policy (pdf, 4.8 MB)
June 5, 2007
Housing Types (presentation by CAC member Clark Wagner) (pdf, 16.2MB)
May 31, 2007
Visits to Germantown faith organizations
May 22, 2007
Environmental Features of the Germantown Master Plan Area (pdf, 5.3 MB).
April 10 & 11, 2007
ESOL Classes: What Do You Like About Germantown?
March 7, 2007
Community-wide Charrette Results
Community vision statements, desired characteristics, diagrams and recommended actions.
February 13, 2007
CAC Meeting: Status of the Germantown Master Plan, 1989 (pdf, 12.6 MB)
A summary of the 1989 Master Plan recommendations and the current status of those recommendations.
January 31, 2007
Germantown Information Night Results
Information on: Land Use, Community Character and Design, Historic Preservation, Transportation and Transit, Environment and Natural Resources, Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space, Schools, Affordable Housing, Sustainable Development, and Growth Policies.
January 9, 2007
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting
The first meeting of the CAC.
December 14, 2006
Planning Board Selects Citizens Advisory Committee
A list of advisory committee members, their interests and affiliations, and a list of proposed subcommittees. The Staff Report (linked within) briefly describes the area, the issues to be addressed, and the community outreach strategies to be used.
October 11, 18 & 25, 2006
Germantown Alliance, the Upcounty Recreation Advisory Board and the Upcounty Latino Network: The Master Plan Process
June 25-30, 2006
Urban Land Institute Report, Strategies for the Development of the Germantown Business District
A ULI Advisory Services panel responds to questions on how best to assure the growth of employment in Germantown given current market trends.
May 31-June 6, 2006
Citizens Forum on Master Plan
A summary of the forum together with copies of the presentations given.
Resources
Map, Germantown Study Area (pdf, 2.3 MB)
Germantown Demographic Trends
Montgomery College Germantown Campus Master Plan
Germantown Planning Framework (Excerpted from the 1989 plan)
More on Germantown Planning Policies (General description)
Quick Links
Germantown Master Plan (1989) Summary, Full Text
Germantown Town Center Design Study
The General Plan
The Master Plan Process
Germantown - A Thriving Greenbelt Community - General information, development projects and more
M-NCPPC Staff Contact
Sue Edwards, Germantown Planner and I-270 Team Leader
Sue.Edwards@mncppc-mc.org
301-495-4518
