I am told that Planning Department staff may have a draft of the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan ready for the Planning Board's review in late September. Many in the Chevy Chase area have been following this sector plan process carefully, and rightly so.

 

My own role has been limited to conveying to the Planning Board the need for a transparent and open process led by the staff, and I was gratified that the process has been just that.  Given that I will be called upon to review and act upon the final product, my colleagues and I generally do not take hard stances before that time.  However, I have been asked whether I believe this project must be firmly linked to construction of the Purple Line, and my answer is most definitely yes.  And I always believe that the project must be "context sensitive" - in other words, it must be a good neighbor.

Earlier this summer, Planning staff released some preliminary recommendations for the heights and densities that may be allowed in the plan, but that is about all that is known at this time. After the sector plan is fully drafted, a public hearing will be held by the Planning Board who will carefully review the plan and revise it as appropriate before it comes to the Council. My best guess is that the Council will receive the Board's recommended plan in the early winter and the PHED Committee will being its review at that time.  

 

While I am more than happy to hear from residents about the Chevy Chase Lake plan, if you are interested in weighing in on the draft in progress, I would highly encourage you to write directly to the Planning Board at this time as they, as a body, will have the first opportunity to make changes they deem necessary and appropriate.  You can email the Planning Board at mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org.