Silver Spring Downtown Plan

The Montgomery County Planning Board is in the early stages of an update to the Silver Spring Downtown Plan, which will result in comprehensive land use and zoning recommendations for many properties in the Silver Spring Central
Business District (CBD). The Master Plan process will provide property owners with an opportunity to influence the zoning recommendations for sites that will allow for the highest and best use through redevelopment. Montgomery County last evaluated land use and zoning for properties in Downtown Silver Spring in 2000. As part of the County’s plans to update the land use and zoning recommendations for Downtown Silver Spring, the Planning Board approved an expanded boundary for the study area of this Master Plan on June 4th. The boundary generally includes the Silver Spring Central Business District and all properties within a half-mile (i.e., 10 minute pedestrian walking distance) of the future Silver Spring Library Purple Line Station. The study boundaries are reflected on the map copied below:

This expansion option generally includes whole blocks that are within the walkshed, extending into Woodside, Woodside Park and East Silver Spring. As a result, additional properties that are beyond the limits of the Silver Spring
CBD will be evaluated for appropriate land use and zoning recommendations that may allow for redevelopment. If you are a property owner or have an interest in a site located within the approved boundaries, the ongoing Master Plan process will provide an opportunity to request more intensive zoning (i.e., Floor Area Ratio or building height) to allow for redevelopment. The proposed schedule for the Silver Spring Downtown Plan is identified below. If you own property or are interested in properties within the Silver Spring Downtown Plan boundaries, the firm’s land use/zoning practice can help you understand the opportunities that exist for achieving planning and zoning recommendations that will help allow for the highest and best use.

Please contact Bob Dalrymple or Matt Gordon if you would like to discuss further.

• Existing Conditions Analysis/Commence Engagement: June 2020 –October 2020
• Visioning and Preliminary Recommendations: October 2020 – June 2021
• Development of Staff Draft Report: June 2021 – September 2021
• Planning Board Work Sessions and Public Hearing: October 2021 –January 2022
• Planning Board Draft: February 2022
• County Executive Review, County Council Review/PHED Work Sessions: February 2022 –June 2022
• Commission Adoption of Plan: June 2022
• Sectional Map Amendment: September 2022