Over the past month, the Town has been actively engaged in responding to the proposed Bethesda Sector Plan, including the preliminary decisions that have been made by the Planning Board during its ongoing work sessions on the plan.
The Town Council recently approved a position paper on the Bethesda Downtown Plan, and this document has been provided to the Planning Board for review and consideration. The position paper, which is posted on the Town website, states the Town’s opposition to increased building heights and densities on properties adjacent to the Town and advocates for a greenway buffer between the Town and the adjacent commercial corridor. It also expresses the Town’s serious concerns about the plan’s impacts to local infrastructure and urges the Planning Board to update infrastructure studies given the increased densities that have been approved during the course of the Board’s work sessions.
Mayor Al Lang will attend the Planning Board’s February 4 work session to present the Town’s position related to the sector plan, and he has met with Board Chairman Casey Andersen and Planning Board staff to discuss the Town’s interests and concerns. Mayor Lang also has met with St. John’s Church officials, and intends to meet with County Council members, to discuss and advocate for Town interests.
The Town will provide additional updates on its efforts related to the sector plan as they develop.
Please click here for the Bethesda Downtown Plan Position Paper.
Please click here for Councilmember Bickerman's written testimony to the Planning Board at their February 11 meeting.