Montgomery County Planning Department
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What is Green Infrastructure?

Green Infrastructure is a network of waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats and other natural areas of countywide significance that supports native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains air and water resources, and contributes to health and quality of life. As an interconnected system, green infrastructure provides greater environmental viability, value, and function than the sum of the individual resources.

Why are we developing a Green Infrastructure functional master plan?

A functional master plan is a plan that addresses one functional element and associated issues on a broad scale. Its purpose is to provide a set of written and mapped recommendations that address specific elements of the General Plan. For green infrastructure, these include the need to reduce forest fragmentation, improve wildlife habitat, and protect and enhance the quality of life for county residents and workers. A functional master plan includes a large-scale map, text on definitions and guidelines, and implementation mechanisms.

Just as a countywide perspective and connectivity are important in planning for, upgrading and expanding gray infrastructure, (e.g. roads, storm drains, sewers and utilities) they are also important in planning for, upgrading, expanding and protecting functional natural areas, or green infrastructure.

The Green Infrastructure Functional Master Plan will serve a variety of purposes. For elected officials, it will provide a policy guide for development and zoning decisions. For planning staff, it will provide a base for making development review recommendations and provide important information and guidance in support of smart growth, transportation, and park planning. For developers, it will provide a guide for development proposals and mitigation options. For the general public, it will inform them of the goals and objectives for preservation and enhancement of identified environmentally sensitive elements, and will provide recommendations for implementation.

What will the Green Infrastructure Plan do?

The Green Infrastructure Plan will seek to:

  • Identify the existing and desired contiguous network of natural areas of Countywide significance, in addition to parks and Legacy Open Space areas;
  • Identify the current gaps in that network
  • Identify and recommend effective implementation mechanisms to preserve, protect, enhance, and restore this network such as improved natural area mitigation guidelines;
  • Help realize the environmental goals and objectives as stated in the Approved and Adopted General Plan Refinement of 1993;
  • Support the desired development pattern of the county in the General Plan and facilitate Smart Growth;
  • Meet new State requirements as expressed in the County's Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan regarding comprehensive Green Infrastructure planning;
  • Support the recommendations of the County's Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan;
  • Complement the County's Legacy Open Space (LOS) Program;
  • Complement, guide and enhance existing plans, programs, and the Environmental Guidelines for Development;
  • Help realize forest resources goals in the County's Forest Preservation Strategy;
  • Provide a land use planning based tool to help meet the goal of maintaining water quality mandated by the Clean Water Act and TMDLs;
  • Support State Goals for Natural Resource Land Conservation;
  • Increase the potential for State funding of open space preservation through programs that promote the preservation of green infrastructure;
  • Streamline the preparation of environmental information and recommendations for area master plans;
  • Facilitate a more streamlined and environmentally effective review and mitigation process for all public and private development projects;
  • Provide a countywide map of existing and desired Green Infrastructure that can be readily updated; and
  • Provide a basis for tracking and quantifying progress in implementing the plan.

What is the difference between the State Green Infrastructure Assessment and the proposed County Green Infrastructure Plan?

State Green Infrastructure Assessment:

  • Consists of a Statewide map completed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources using a model with statewide resource information and satellite image
  • Identifies a network of environmental resources of statewide significance for possible GreenPrint Program acquisition
  • Used as a reference and guide for land use decisions and targeting state land acquisition funds
  • Maps large features that may provide enough detail for county agencies and decision-makers

Countywide Green Infrastructure Plan:

  • Will use the same principles as the state assessment
  • Will be adopted as a functional master plan for Montgomery County
  • Will rely on more detailed Montgomery County data, aerial photographs, and the County's Geographic Information System to do the mapping and analysis of the resources
  • Will be a policy guide for development and zoning decisions
  • Will provide a basis for making development mitigation decisions
  • Will be a guide for targeting county funds for environmental preservation, conservation and restoration activities
  • Will guide County master plan revisions

What is the relationship of the Green Infrastructure Plan to the County's Legacy Open Space Plan?

The Legacy Open Space Plan is a strategic plan aimed a identifying the "best of the best" natural (and other) open space resources in the County. Although the LOS Plan addresses the overall concept and importance of green infrastructure, it was not intended to identify all resources for overall ecological connectivity and function. The Green Infrastructure Plan will give us a broader understanding of the County's natural resources, their relative significance, and how best to achieve a functional network of important green space. Any sites identified by the Green Infrastructure Plan that meet Legacy Open Space criteria can be considered for addition to that program through the process provided by that plan. As a result, the Green Infrastructure Plan will complement the Legacy Open Space Plan, providing the county with a more comprehensive approach to natural resource protection.

What are some of the main issues to be addressed during Plan development?

  • Definition of Green Infrastructure elements
  • Reduction of forest fragmentation and preservation of habitat diversity
  • Enhancement of surface water quality
  • Enhancement of habitat quality
  • Evaluation of the current status of efforts to preserve potential Green Infrastructure elements
  • Determination of the applicable Environmental Regulations, Guidelines, Mechanisms and Commitments that are necessary to implement the Green Infrastructure Plan
  • Consideration of Green Infrastructure elements during the land development process
  • Consideration of Green Infrastructure element size and priority in different areas
  • Implementation Goals for the Green Infrastructure Plan
  • Measures of success
  • Integration and coordination of the Green Infrastructure Plan with other County plans

What are the principles that will guide Plan development?

  • Help meet the environmental goals and objectives of the General Plan Refinement of 1993
  • Support the development pattern of the General Plan and Smart Growth principles
  • Identify the existing and desired contiguous network of natural areas of Countywide significance and the current gaps in that network, including adjacent jurisdictions
  • Recommend strategies and effective implementation mechanisms to connect, preserve, protect, enhance and restore this network
  • Ensure meaningful public participation
  • Provide a basis for prioritization of protection and restoration efforts
  • Support the establishment and optimal use of a countywide inventory of mitigation sites

Purpose & outreach strategy report

On March 9, 2006, the Planning Board approved publication of the Purpose and Outreach Strategy Report. Approval of this report begins public participation in the process of creating a countywide vision for ecosystems and natural area connections.

This report explains why green infrastructure is important and why the County needs a functional master plan for it. It also outlines the relationship of the Green Infrastructure Plan to other State and County plans and programs, the objectives of the plan, major themes and issues, a proposed public outreach strategy, and a tentative project schedule.

Download Report

Tentative project schedule

The scheduled timeframe for the active phases of this master plan process are noted below. This schedule is subject to change in response to adjusting priorities and needs as the Commission undertakes internal changes to improve service.

January 2008
  • Begin preliminary Green Infrastructure mapping analysis
    • Prepare for interactive GIS mapping sessions
February 2008 - March 2008
  • Continue preliminary Green Infrastructure mapping analysis
  • Select Green Infrastructure mapping approach for scenario development
  • Begin Public Outreach focus towards youth
March 2008 - April 2008
  • Develop Natural resources base map including sensitive areas covered by existing environmental guidelines and regulations
  • Formulate draft alternative mapping scenarios
  • Preparation for Green Infrastructure plan public meeting
May 2008
  • Green Infrastructure plan public meeting to present scenarios and gather input
  • Brief Planning Board on results of public information meeting
June 2008 - November 2008
  • Develop draft Green Infrastructure plan
December 2008
  • Second public meeting to present draft plan
June 2009
  • Present to Planning Board / Authorization to print and distribute for comment
July 2009 - December 2009
  • Planning Board public hearing and worksessions
  • Final draft
January 2010 - July 2010
  • County Executive review
  • County Council review
  • Public hearing
  • Worksessions
  • Approval and adoption

Focus group meeting summaries

As part of the public outreach effort, stakeholder focus groups were formed to discuss issues related to the development of the plan. These groups have met and the meeting summaries are available below:

Media coverage

Click the following link to read an article on the Plan by Ken Millstone in the Potomac Almanac: http://www.potomacalmanac.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=59399&paper=70&cat=104

How can I get involved?

Contact us if you wish to be added to an e-mail list to receive periodic updates about meetings, plan materials and opportunities for comment. Or . . . . .visit this web site periodically to see the schedule and materials posted.

Contact information

A staff team in the Department of Park and Planning, led by Environmental Planning, 301-495-2188, is preparing the Countywide Green Infrastructure Plan.

Environmental Planning Staff Contacts:

Project Manager: Michael Zamore - michael.zamore@mncppc-mc.org
Supervisor: Mary Dolan - mary.dolan@mncppc-mc.org
Project advisor: Mark Symborski - mark.symborski@mncppc-mc.org

Date of last page update: March 21, 2008

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