County Council Phase of the Damascus Master Plan
The Planning Board Draft of the Damascus Master Plan was transmitted to the County Council on November 29, 2005. The next phase of this master plan process will include the following activities:
- County Council Public Hearing: The Public Hearing period for the community to officially comment on the Damascus Planning Board Draft Plan, has ended on Februray 17, 2006. The commuity is encouraged to participate in the process by attending the PHED Committee meetings and writing to the Council. Any correspondences to the Counth Council will be addressed in a timely fashion.
- PHED Committee Meetings: The Planning Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee, chaired by Councilmember Steven Silverman, will schedule meetings to further discuss, analyze and provide recommendations for the issues raised during the County Council Public Hearing meeting. The following PHED committee meetings are scheduled as follows:
- February 17, 2006 (Continuation of the January 24, 2006 public hearing)
This meeting occurs before the continued Public Hearing meeting on February 28, 2006--County Council members will not take final votes on the Plan until after that date. - March 3, 2006
Overview and discussion of the Planning Board Draft Plan - March 10, 2006
- Discussion of Alternative Routes for a potential Bypass in Damascus
- Transition Properties - Discussion of the Casey/Lewis Properties
- Town Center
- March 17, 2006
- Town Center
- Transition Properties
- Rural Area
- March 20, 2006
- Continuation of Friday topics, wrap-up and decision on Transportation
- March 27, 2006
- Zoning Text Amedment (ZTA) 06-01, Rural Village Center Overlay Zone - Revisions
- ZTA 06-02, Mixed Use Town Center Zone - Revisions
- ZTA 06-03, Rural Neighborhood Cluster Zone - TDR
- Full County Council Review Meetings: Subsequent to the completion of the PHED Committee worksessions, the County Council will determine if amendments to the Plan submitted by the Planning Board are warranted. The plan will then be approved or disapproved by the Council. The following Full Council meetings are scheduled as follows:
- April 4, 2006
- Full Council Review of the Plan. (The Damascus Bypass Issue will be revisited and voted on at the Council's May 5, and/or May 18 meetings.)
- May 5, 2006
- Full Council Review (Continuation)
- May 18, 2006
- Full Council Review (Final Vote)
Upon commencement of these meetings the full Council will take action on the Plan sometime in late fall 2006. If and when the Council approves the plan, a Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) will then be prepared to implement the zoning changes recommended in the Plan. The SMA will also involve a formal public review process, including a public hearing by the District Council.
For information on the PHED Committee , the council's schedule, and PHED Committee packet items, please call the Montgomery County Council at 240-777-7900 or visit its web site at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov
Date of last update: April 10, 2006