Wheaton Central Business District and Vicinity Sector Plan Update
Almost 20 years after the Montgomery County Planning Department last examined Wheaton’s commercial center, planners re-evaluated the community’s central business district. The amended sector plan guides future land use and development in downtown Wheaton.
View the fast-download version of the Wheaton Central Business District Sector Plan (5.6 MB), which was approved in January 2012. Access other download options, including a full-resolution file.
- Download the plan appendix
- The Wheaton Central Business District Design Guidelines (3.8 MB) provide guidance on how future development should enhance the public realm
- View the Wheaton CBD Streetscape Standards(2.8 MB).
Background
The amendment to the 1990 Wheaton Sector Plan covers 484 acres surrounding the Wheaton Metro station. The plan focuses on encouraging great urban design, efficient transportation, pedestrian links to the Wheaton Metro station, environmental sustainability and more.
Home to the Wheaton Westfield Mall, Wheaton draws customers and workers from throughout the county and serves locals with a core of small stores, restaurants and other businesses.
The Plan looks at Wheaton’s future and how to build on its strengths. Planners, with input from the community and property owners, proposed a development pattern that best meets the needs and goals of Wheaton as a highly livable, unique place in the county. The plan's goals are as follows:
- Focus new development and revitalization efforts near Metro’s Red Line
- Reinvigorate Wheaton’s downtown by creating a walkable community with a distinct identity
- Create a vibrant mix of jobs and housing
- Preserve Wheaton’s ethnic diversity
- Design quality public spaces inviting to pedestrians
- Foster an environmentally sustainable community
Learn more
View video clip on the Wheaton Sector Plan excerpted from our Montgomery Plans cable show.
Community outreach
The Wheaton Sector Plan outreach strategy engaged two advisory committees associated with the Mid-County Regional Services Center -- the Wheaton Redevelopment advisory Committee (WRAC), as the lead organizing committee and the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC). During the planning process, WRAC and WUDAC formed a Wheaton Sector Plan Joint Advisory Ad Hoc Work Group. The Wheaton Civic Coalition, other interested organizations and community members also participated in the work group as non-voting members.
Project schedule
Past meetings
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Planners develop master and sector plans to create a framework for each community designed to last 15 to 20 years. Those visions help planners and policy-makers – such as the Planning Board and County Council – make policy and decide on proposed development. Each sector plan includes an inventory of land uses and an analysis of zoning, transportation, community facilities, environmental assets, and historic structures, among many other elements.M-NCPPC staff contact
Khalid Afzal
Area 2 planner
301-495-4650
Khalid.Afzal@montgomeryplanning.org
Date of last update: May 10, 2013
Montgomery County Planning Department
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.montgomeryplanning.org