All Things Montgomery: August 2026 🌻
Happy one-year anniversary of the All Things Montgomery newsletter! 🎂
Since inaugurating this newsletter last year, together we’ve celebrated wins on University Boulevard, statewide pro-housing legislation, housing at the Chevy Chase Library, and more.
We’ve shared candidate questionnaires, reflections on national housing advocacy issues, and informative articles on topics like ADUs and inclusionary zoning.
It’s been a busy 12 months—and the pace isn’t slowing down now! In this edition, you’ll find opportunities to take action on everything from local sidewalk to BRT to master plans in Friendship Heights and Wheaton.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for all you do to advocate for a more sustainable and equitable Montgomery County!
Sincerely,
Carrie Kisicki
Maryland Housing Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coordinator, Montgomery for All
Brandi Panbach
Newsletter Chair, Montgomery for All
Tony Byrne
Steering Committee Chair, Montgomery for All
🎥 Lights! Camera! Taking Action!
If you’re following CSG on Instagram or our other social channels, you may have caught our Virginia team’s ongoing crash-course series on missing middle housing!
Videos like these help draw and welcome new advocates into our work for walkable, transit-connected communities.
In Montgomery County, our videos have featured our Chevy Chase Library win, GEICO campus redevelopment action alert and testimony, and Friendship Heights Sector Plan hearings.
You are likely more of an influencer than you know, so please share! 😉
Meanwhile, are there any topics you’d want to see featured in a future video? Do you have favorite local creators who highlight housing + transportation topics—or are you one yourself? Let us know by replying to this email!
🗣️ Make a difference this month! Events, meetings, and hearings
August 18: Friendship Heights Sector Plan – Planning Board Walking Tour (learn more, no RSVP required)
️ August 29: Wheaton Plan Community Bike Ride (RSVP)
Now - August 31: Support new sidewalks near Manchester Place Purple Line station (weigh in and learn more)
️ September 10: Friendship Heights Sector Plan Hearing @ Planning Headquarters in Wheaton (sign up and learn more)
️ September 14: Friendship Heights Sector Plan Hearing @ Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (sign up and learn more)
September 22: New Hampshire Ave. BRT County Council hearing — support Planning Board + Council staff recommendations to advance BRT Hybrid Alternative 5 (sign up and learn more)
⭐️ Featured: Friendship Heights Sector Plan Hearings on Sep. 10 and 14
The Friendship Heights Sector Plan updates recommendations for land use, housing, parks, and more near the Friendship Heights Metro for the first time since 1998. We strongly support the plan’s vision of mixed-use development with new homes, businesses and community spaces, as well as improved pedestrian and bike connections.
The Planning Board will hold two hearings on the current draft of the plan in September. The deadline for hearing sign-up and testimony submission is two business days before each hearing at 12:00pm.
Here’s how you can weigh in:
Testify in-person or virtually on September 10 (sign up here): This hearing will take place at the Planning Board hearing room in Wheaton at 1:30pm.
Testify in-person only on September 14 (sign up here): This hearing will take place at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center with slots at both 4:00pm and 6:00pm.
Email your testimony to the Planning Board: Submit your written comments by emailing them to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org. Make sure you include your name, mailing address, and the subject of your comments (the Friendship Heights Sector Plan Update) in your email.
⭐️ Featured: Wheaton Plan Bike Ride on August 29
Join Planning staff and WABA (plus several Montgomery for All members who plan to attend!) on a community bike ride in Wheaton!
This ride will highlight planned and existing bikeways in the Wheaton area. Participants can share feedback with planners about changes they would like to see to the bike network in the forthcoming Wheaton Plan. There are 3-mile and 7-mile ride options depending on the pace you prefer.
Registration closes on August 21 in order to ensure there are enough Planning staff available to safely guide the ride. Sign up today!
🗂️ P.S. — CSG is Hiring!
CSG is currently hiring for a Communications Intern and a Baltimore County Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Organizer. We are looking for people who are passionate about connecting with others and supporting walkable, transit-connected communities!
Learn more about both open positions here!
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.
