Sandy Spring/Ashton Zoning Text Amendment
Planning Board Hearing 4/16 at 9 AM
County Council Hearing 4/21 at 1:30 PM
The
Sandy Spring/Ashton Rural Village Overlay Zone
contains regulations and standards for development in Sandy Spring and Ashton in order to insure that new development is in conformance with the
Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan
.
Specifically, the Sandy Spring/Ashton Rural Village Overlay Zone’s purpose is to “enhance the rural village character” by
insuring that new commercial development does not detract from the rural nature of the area.
Before County Councilmember Don Praisner’s untimely death, he was working on a Zoning Text Amendment for the Sandy
Spring/Ashton Overlay Zone. The amendment is now being sponsored by Councilmember Marc Elrich.
The
Zoning Text Amendment
is a modification to Section 59-C-18.182 Regulations, (b) Commercial Development, (1) Land Uses, which
lists commercial uses that “are prohibited in the overlay zones”. The Zoning
Text Amendment updates the list of prohibited uses in the Sandy Spring/Ashton
Overlay Zone with uses that are similar to those already on the list, thus reinforcing
the rural nature of the community.
On March 17, the Zoning Text Amendment was introduced to the Council by Councilmember Elrich, and a vote was taken that
called for a public hearing at 1:30 on Tuesday, April 21. Prior to the hearing
on April 21, the Planning Board will provide the Council with its
recommendation. The Planning Board will have its public hearing on April 16 at
9 AM. The
Planning Staff recommendation
to the Planning Board supports the Zoning Text Amendment, but includes a number of recommended changes.
Written opinions and oral testimony at both the Planning Board and County Council hearings are welcomed. When preparing
testimony and written opinions, the Overlay Zone description and the
Definitions and Interpretations
of the list of prohibited commercial developments should be reviewed.
When you testify at the Planning Board, you have three minutes to verbally present your ideas
concerning the Zoning Text Amendment. If you also have written testimony,
bring ten copies with you to the hearing. To register to testify, call 301-495-4600.
Letters and email are a good way to get your input to the Planning Board. It is not too
late for letters and email to be received. Include a reference to “Zoning Text
Amendment, No.09-01” in your letter. Send it to
Royce Hanson, Chair, Planning Board
Attn: Zoning Text Amendment, No. 09-01
Maryland National Park and Planning Commission
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Email:
mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org
Gregory Russ, Zoning Coordinator, Planning Staff
Attn: Zoning Text Amendment, No. 09-01
Maryland National Park and Planning Commission
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Email:
Gregory.Russ@mncppc-mc.org
If you want to testify at the County Council hearing, please call 240-777-7931 to register.
Oral testimony is limited to three minutes. The hearing will be held in the
Third Floor Hearing Room
Montgomery County Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Those who testify before the County Council are asked to provide the clerk at the hearing with 15 copies of
their written testimony (which can be longer and more detailed than the oral
testimony delivered in the 3 minutes one is allotted). Written material for the County Council
should be sent to
Montgomery County Council
Montgomery County Council Office Building
100 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Email:
County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov
Please also send a copy of your correspondence to SSARPC at
feedback@ssarpc.org
or
SSARPC
Box 518
Ashton, Maryland 20861
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