Montgomery County Council Meets on Oct. 10 to Vote on the Pedestrian Master Plan

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 9, 2023

Also on Oct. 10: Proclamations will recognize World Mental Health Day, Department of Transportation employees and National Farmer’s Day; Council to vote on legislation to expand commercial vehicle parking standards for properties with a residential use

The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. and will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize World Mental Health Day. The second, presented by Councilmember Natali Fani-González will recognize the work of employees at the Department of Transportation.

At 1:15 p.m. an additional proclamation, presented by Councilmembers Sayles, Marilyn Balcombe and Dawn Luedtke, will recognize National Farmer’s Day.

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

District Council Session

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 23-05, Vehicle Parking Design Standards – Commercial Vehicle Parking for Properties with a Residential Use

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 23-05, Vehicle Parking Design Standards – Commercial Vehicle Parking for Properties with a Residential Use. The ZTA would expand the options for parking certain vehicles in the R-200, R-90, R-60 and R-40 Zones. The lead sponsor is Councilmember Gabe Albornoz. Councilmembers Balcombe and Sidney Katz are cosponsors.

Currently, the zoning ordinance allows only one light commercial vehicle and one recreational vehicle to be parked on any lot or parcel in the R-200, R-90, R-60 or R-40 Zones. As introduced, ZTA 23-05 would expand these options to allow, alternatively, two light commercial vehicles to be parked on any lot or parcel in the R-200, R-90, R-60 or R-40 Zones. A light commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle or trailer used for carrying freight or merchandise or used in the promotion of any commercial enterprise that is less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, less than 21 feet long and less than eight feet high. The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.

Pedestrian Master Plan

Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on the Pedestrian Master Plan. The plan is Montgomery Planning’s first comprehensive vision to create safer, more comfortable experiences walking or rolling around the County, and to make getting around more convenient and accessible for every pedestrian.

The plan provides detailed, actionable recommendations in line with national and international best practices to improve the pedestrian experience, from more and better places to cross the street to a data-driven, equity-focused approach for the County’s future pedestrian/bicycle capital investments.

On July 25, the Council received an overview of the Planning Board draft, which was followed by the public hearing. The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee held two meetings to review the plan, with its first meeting held on Sept. 11 and the second meeting held on Sept. 18. The Council held a full work session to review the plan on Sept. 26.

The Planning Board Draft of the Pedestrian Master Plan can be viewed on the Montgomery County Planning Department’s website. The resolution to approve the Pedestrian Master Plan can be viewed in the Council staff report on circle pages 1-28.

Consent Calendar

Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 10, which is available on the Council website .

Public Hearings

Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony .

Executive Director Recruitment Committee

At 3 p.m. , the ad hoc Executive Director Recruitment Committee intends to meet in closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees, employees or officials over whom it has jurisdiction, under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1)(i); and to discuss, before a contract is awarded, a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal under Maryland Code, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(14). The topics will be the appointment of an employee over whom the Council has jurisdiction and the consideration of bid proposals for professional services before a contract is made.

The purpose of this ad hoc Council committee is to evaluate the role and responsibilities of the Council’s executive director position and make decisions about the recruitment process. The work of this temporary committee coincides with Council Executive Director Marlene Michaelson’s decision to leave her post in February 2024.

The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website .

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream .

Release ID: 23-328
Media Contact: 240-777-7805, 240-777-7884

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=44123