All Things Montgomery: August 2025
Welcome to the very first edition of All Things Montgomery — the new Montgomery County monthly newsletter from Montgomery for All and the Coalition for Smarter Growth!
This newsletter is a collaborative effort between CSG and our outstanding volunteer leaders at Montgomery for All. Each month, you’ll get a digest of the latest smart growth happenings in our county, a spotlight on featured advocacy opportunities, and a full list of upcoming events, hearings, and meetings.
There is never a dull moment in Montgomery County. In any given month, there may be multiple master plans underway, local meetings on bike lanes and sidewalks, Council legislation under consideration, and more.
My hope is that this newsletter can offer you insight into these many ways to be involved, and empower you to engage even more deeply in local advocacy for affordable, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
Sincerely,
Carrie Kisicki
Montgomery Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coordinator, Montgomery for All
More Housing NOW Recap — Advocacy Success, And More to Come!
by Brandi Panbach
Steering Committee, Montgomery for All
On July 22nd, the County Council passed the most transformative Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) from the broader More Housing N.O.W. (New Options for Workers) package.
Thank you to our members for tirelessly advocating for this package! While it isn’t as ambitious as the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative originally proposed by the Planning Board, it’s an exciting step towards creating more homes. Thanks also go to Councilmembers Friedson and Natali Fani-González for their leadership in introducing and advocating for the ZTA, and to all Councilmembers who voted for this ZTA and recognize that our zoning status quo is no longer working.
CSG's statement summarizes the historic passage: “Measures like this that take on the structural problems feeding our housing shortage are a necessary step to achieve our shared vision of a sustainable, inclusive county.”
What’s in More Housing NOW?
A ZTA is how the Council amends the county’s zoning code. The ZTA that recently passed allows duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and apartments along many of the county’s transit corridors, while requiring 15% as workforce housing when building three units or more.
Workforce housing is defined as housing affordable to a person earning 120% of the average median income (AMI) or less. Planning analysis has found that Montgomery County has a deficit of over 12,000 rental units affordable to households earning 70% - 120% AMI—above the usual cutoff to qualify for affordable housing. Currently, 100% AMI for a single person is $114,730 and for a family of four is $163,900.
Note that this housing will only be permitted on roads with width greater than 100 feet and 3+ travel lanes, and height-limited to forty feet. So there's still more work for us to do! You can find eligible parcels on this map.
Make a difference this month!
August 28: US 29 Bus Rapid Transit Public Meeting and Corridor Advisory Committee, MCDOT (in-person, learn more)
September 4: Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan — Faith-Based Community Conversation (in-person, sign up)
⭐️September 10: University Boulevard Corridor Plan Hearing #1, Council (in-person or virtual, sign up)
Ongoing through September 10: Friendship Heights Survey, Planning (take the survey)
September 11: Montgomery Parks Capital Improvements Program FY2027- 2032 Forum (learn more and sign up)
⭐️September 16: University Boulevard Corridor Plan Hearing #2, Council (in-person or virtual, sign up)
September 25: Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan hearings, Planning Board (two times and locations, learn more and sign up)
September 30: Hearing on Bill 28-25 (sponsored by Evan Glass, prohibiting standing, stopping and parking in bikeways) (in-person or virtual, learn more and sign up)
Featured: University Boulevard Corridor Plan
The University Boulevard Corridor Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), between I-495 and Wheaton. The plan explores opportunities for new homes and businesses, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. The plan just passed the planning board in June and the County Council hearings for the plan are coming up in September. Sign up to testify in support of this transformative plan:
Hearing #1: Wed., Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m., at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road.
Hearing #2: Tues., Sept. 16 at 7:00 p.m., at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave in Rockville
Become a member of Montgomery for All
Join our community of local advocates when you become a member of Montgomery for All!
Membership is just $5 a year and supports our advocacy for affordable, inclusive housing options and great, walkable communities across the county.
In 2025, members’ contributions have helped us expand our outreach by supporting costs like registration fees for tabling at community events and printed advocacy handouts on the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative.