Montgomery County Planners to Host Community Open House for New East County Science Center Master Plan

Montgomery County Planning Board Press Release:


SILVER SPRING, MD – Planners, starting work on a new master plan for the East County this fall, are going into the community on Wednesday to solicit ideas and comments for what the plan might encompass.

The plan, called the East County Science Center Master Plan, will encompass the White Oak area east of New Hampshire Avenue and Colesville Road, including the Cherry Hill Road area and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) site. At the June 30 open house, planners want to hear from residents, workers, landowners and anyone interested in the future of eastern Montgomery County as they begin to develop a scope of work for the project.

The plan will create a new vision for the area that features a mixed-use life sciences center building upon the presence of the FDA campus in White Oak. It will address the land use, urban design and transit access issues related to the future growth of the Cherry Hill area. That includes the FDA, the proposed Washington Adventist Hospital, County’s Site 2 (formerly a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission site) and the Percontee property.

At the open house, planners will discuss the upcoming project and solicit input from the community on issues that should be addressed. Residents are asked to drop in anytime between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. to learn about the purpose of the plan, the approximate boundaries of the planning area and proposed study area, demographic research, and the basics of master planning.

Learn more at www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/ecsc

After the open house, planners will develop a scope of work that they will present to the Planning Board this fall.

Who:
Montgomery County Planning Department

What:
East County Science Center Master Plan Open House

When:
4:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 30 (drop in anytime)

Where:
Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center
3300 Briggs Chaney Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 2090

For more information, contact:

Valerie Berton
Communications Manager
Montgomery County Planning Board
301/495-4600

"The Best Public Spaces, are Public Places"

I enjoyed attending the fourth presentation in the White Flint Partnership Speaker Series: “The Best Public Spaces, Are Public Places” on Wednesday, June 2nd that took place at Dave & Buster’s in the White Flint Mall from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Mr. Rollin Stanley, Planning Director, Montgomery County Planning Department, gave an entertaining and informative slide presentation on what makes public spaces great and places where people want to be. He presented examples of some of the best public spaces throughout the world and talked about the fundamental elements these spaces share: these spaces should engage all five senses; not be overly programmed spaces and work for people of all ages and abilities.

Mr. Stanley also talked about how important it is to think of how these public spaces will look and feel through out any given day, in any season of the year. He said that the public spaces planned for White Flint should offer interesting, fun and unexpected features so that the public will be excited to spend time there to relax and socialize.

I am very enthused about the future of White Flint and look forward to seeing its potential come into focus in the years ahead!

To learn more:

http://www.friendsofwhiteflint.org/ ; http://www.whiteflintplanning.org/ and http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/

Council to Interview Four Applicants for Chair of County Planning Board

The Montgomery County Council on Wednesday, May 12, will interview four applicants who are interested in filling the position on the Montgomery County Planning Board for the expiring term of Royce Hanson (Democrat). His term will expire on June 14, 2010. Dr. Hanson, who is chair of the Planning Board, did not apply for reappointment.

The interviews will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Sixth Floor Conference Room of the Council Office at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The interviews are open to the public.
 
The interview schedule is set as follows: John Robinson (Democrat) of Kensington, 1:30 p.m.; Tedi Osias (Democrat) of Chevy Chase, 1:50 p.m.; Peter Fosselman (Democrat) of Kensington, 2:10 p.m.; and Francoise Carrier (Democrat) of Rockville, 2:30 p.m.

Planning Department Launches ReThink Montgomery, a Weekly Speaker Series Focusing on Smart Growth, Livability

SILVER SPRING – In response to changing demographics, economics and lifestyles, the Montgomery County Planning Department will host a spring speaker series that focuses on ways to meet the challenges of change as we manage growth to shape great communities.

The Rethink Montgomery speaker series focuses on ways to connect culture, health, food, knowledge, ecology, economy, infrastructure, resources, and energy as part of a re-examination of Montgomery County. Experts will join planners and the public to analyze how such elements should be considered as part of planning to create quality places.

How planners link those elements will define Montgomery County for the next several decades. For example, culture plays a big role in how many residents define themselves, their values and their communities. How we use space can respect culture, and guest speakers exploring “culture” will delve into how good planning can foster sports, music, theater, food or public art.

The speaker series runs April 8 through June 3. All sessions will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Park and Planning headquarters as part of weekly Planning Board meetings. Some will qualify for continuing education credits for professionals.

On April 8, the series kicks off with a panel featuring five local bloggers: David Alpert (Greater Greater Washington), Cindy Cotte Griffiths (Rockville Central), Dan Reed (Just Up the Pike), Eric Robbins (Thayer Avenue) and Barnaby Zall (Friends of White Flint).

Learn more at www.montgomeryplanning.org/rethink.