Commissioner Hedrick enters second term as Planning Board member

ROCKVILLE, Md. – The Montgomery County Council voted to reappoint Commissioner James Hedrick to the Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), at its July 28, 2026, meeting. Hedrick, who was first appointed in 2023, will now serve a new four-year term on the Planning Board.  

“Serving on the Planning Board has been both an honor and a great responsibility,” said Commissioner Hedrick. “I’m grateful to my colleagues, the Parks and Planning staff, and community members who brought their perspectives to some of the county’s most important conversations. I look forward to helping shape policies that will continue to positively affect people’s daily lives.”

“We are pleased with the reappointment of Commissioner James Hedrick to the Board,” said Planning Board Chair Artie Harris. “His expertise and thoughtful leadership are invaluable as we plan for Montgomery County’s future growth and steward a world-class park system. I look forward to continuing the work we started together on behalf of the communities we serve.”

Commissioner Hedrick was appointed to the Planning Board in February 2023. Throughout his time serving on the Planning Board, Commissioner Hedrick has reviewed many important plans and projects such as the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan, the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, the Bethesda Downtown Plan Minor Master Plan Amendment, the Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science, the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment and many development projects and studies including community listening sessions on addressing the county’s housing crisis. Commissioner Hedrick was recently featured in a Third Place Blog post for Affordable Housing Month.

Watch the County Council’s interviews of each candidate on July 14, 2026. 

About James Hedrick 

James Hedrick was appointed to the Montgomery County Planning Board in February 2023. Dr. Hedrick has spent his career working in community development and affordable housing. He completed his PhD in Political Science at Rice University in 2017 and has degrees in both public policy and anthropology from American University and the University of Texas, respectively. Before being appointed to the Planning Board, Dr. Hedrick was a long-time federal employee and now serves as the Executive Director of Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE), the public housing authority for the City of Rockville. He previously served on the board of the Action Committee for Transit (ACT), the steering committee for Montgomery for All, and the board of the Twinbrook Community Association, as well as serving as the RHE’s Chair from 2017-2023. He lives with his wife and three kids in Rockville, MD and enjoys cycling, bird-watching, and other exciting middle-aged hobbies.

The Planning Board will be on recess in August; Historic Preservation Commission and Development Review Committee meetings continue

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their August 2026 calendar of events and meetings.  

The Planning Board is on recess in August and will resume weekly meetings on September 10. Prior Planning Board meetings can be watched on demand.

Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.  

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change. 

August Calendar of Events and Meetings 

August 3 –Signups to testify for the Friendship Heights Sector Plan public hearings open. These hearings will be held on September 10 beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Planning Board Auditorium on the second floor of The M-NCPPC’s Wheaton headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) and September 14 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814). In person testimony is available on both dates; virtual testimony will only be accepted on September 10. Residents who wish to attend without providing testimony do not need to register.

August 11 –The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be hybrid. The community is invited to attend in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) or online by watching the DRC live video stream or viewing on-demand. The meeting will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. At these regularly scheduled meetings twice a month, DRC members discuss development applications with the applicants.

August 18 – Beginning at 9:30 am, The Planning Board will attend a walking tour of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan in advance of the scheduled public hearings. This tour is free and open to any members of the public to attend and observe. The agenda and route will be published on the Planning Board’s website on August 4.

August 19 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold its meeting in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) with a virtual option available. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the hearing. The meeting will start at 7 p.m.

August 25 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be hybrid. The community is invited to attend in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) or online by watching the DRC live video stream or viewing on-demand. The meeting will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

August 29 – The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan team invites the community to join a community bike ride to tour proposed bike facilities and existing projects in Wheaton. There will be a 3-mile family route and a 7-mile full route. Bring your own bike and helmet. The tour will meet at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive) at 9 a.m. and start at 9:30 a.m. RVSP for the Wheaton Plan Bike Ride.

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their July 2026 calendar of events and meetings.  

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.  

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change. 

Montgomery Planning and Planning Board offices will be closed on July 3 in observance of Independence Day. The Montgomery Planning Information Counter will be closed on July 17. The Planning Board will be on recess during the month of August.

July Calendar of Events and Meetings 

July 2 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online.

July 8 – Montgomery Planning staff will attend the Seneca Valley High School Summer Block Party (19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD 20874) from 5 to 7 p.m. to share information with the Germantown community about the Germantown Sector Plan Amendment.

July 9 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online.

July 9 – The Planning Board will host the second of a three-part Growing Smarter in a Changing Climate speaker series, “Where Farming Meets the Grid: Agrivoltaics in Action.” The event will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 5 to7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP encouraged but not required.

July 11 – Montgomery Planning staff will attend the Artisans Market at BlackRock Center for the Arts (12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874) from Noon to 4 p.m. to share information with the Germantown community about the Germantown Sector Plan Amendment.

July 14 –The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be hybrid. The community is invited to attend in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) or online by watching the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. At these regularly scheduled meetings twice a month, DRC members discuss development applications with the applicants.

July 15 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold its meeting in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) with a virtual option available upon request. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the hearing.

July 16 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online.

July 16 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at Montgomery Parks’ Playhouse Junior at Wheaton Local Park (11729 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 10 to 11 a.m. to talk with residents about The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan.

July 21 – Montgomery Planning staff will hold an open house at BlackRock Center for the Arts (12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874) from 6 to 8 p.m. to share Preliminary Recommendations for the Germantown Sector Plan Amendment.

July 23 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online.

July 23 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at the Wheaton Farmer’s Market at the Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park (2001 Evans Parkway, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 2 to 6 p.m. to talk with residents about The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan. 

July 28 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be hybrid. The community is invited to attend in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) or online by watching the DRC live video stream.

July 29 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold its meeting in-person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) with a virtual option available upon request. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the hearing.

July 30 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online.

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their June 2026 calendar of events and meetings.  

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.  

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change. Montgomery Planning and Planning Board offices will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

June Calendar of Events and Meetings 

June 2 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

June 3 – Montgomery Planning staff invites the community to join a Planners in the Park meet-up to talk about the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan at the new Hastings Neighborhood Conservation Area gathering spot (300 Granville Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901) from 5 to 7 p.m.

June 4 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online. 

June 6 – Montgomery Planning staff invites the community to join a Planners in the Park meet-up to talk about the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan at the new Oakview Trailhead gathering spot (1100 Oakview Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20903). Planning and Montgomery Parks staff will be available to chat from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and then they will begin a guided hike along the Northwest Branch Trail, departing from the trailhead at 9:30 a.m.

June 7 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at Taste of Wheaton at Marian Fryer Town Plaza (2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to talk with residents about The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan.

June 9 – The Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites the community to join an in-person meeting where the team will share key recommendations that will be included in the draft plan, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Wisconsin Place Community Recreation Center, 5311 Friendship Boulevard, Chevy Chase, MD 20815). This presentation will focus on new recommendations that have not been previously presented. Registration for June 9 is recommended but not required.   

June 10 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting. 

June 11 – The Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites the community to join a virtual meeting where the team will share key recommendations that will be included in the draft plan, starting at 7 p.m. This presentation will focus on new recommendations that have not been previously presented. Registration for June 11 is required to receive the Zoom link.    

June 14 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at Discover Long Branch’s Flower Avenue Together Block Party (on the Corner of Flower Avenue and Erie Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912) from 2 to 5 p.m. to talk with residents about the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan.

June 16 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

June 16 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at Montgomery Parks’ Playhouse Junior at Wheaton Local Park (11729 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 10 to 11 a.m. to talk with residents about The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan.

June 17 – Montgomery Planning staff invites the community to join a Planners in the Park meet-up to talk about the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan at the new Quebec Terrace Neighborhood Park gathering spot (1040 Quebec Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20903) from 5 to 7 p.m.

June 18 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online. 

June 24 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting. 

June 25 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, MD 20902) and online. 

June 30 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, MD 20902) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their May 2026 calendar of events and meetings.

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public ten days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) website for their agenda information.

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change.

May Calendar of Events and Meetings

May 2 – Montgomery Planning staff will be at Montgomery Parks’ Sligo Creek Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sligo Creek Parkway between University Boulevard and Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring, Md. The Placemaking team will unveil a newly designed trailer and provide a preview of the upcoming Silver Spring placemaking locations. The East County Planning staff will be available to talk with residents about the Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan.

May 5 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

May 6 – Montgomery Planning’s Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites community members to a virtual office hours session on Zoom from 12 to1:30 p.m. to ask questions/chat with the planning team about the plan. The session will cover all plan topics. Register to receive the Zoom link. 

May 7 – The Planning Board will hold its weekly meeting in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

May 11 – Montgomery Planning’s Historic Preservation Office invites to public to attend the unveiling of a permanent historic marker at Edward U. Taylor School, 19501 White Ground Road, Boyds, Md. at 9:30 a.m. The marker is part of the M-NCPPC’s Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories program, an ongoing project to install historic markers around the county that highlight underrepresented topics in local history.

May 13 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold its meeting in-person (M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, 2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the HPC Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

May 14 – The Planning Board will hold its weekly meeting in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

May 15 – Planning staff will support Bike to Work Day at Pit Stops across the county. Staff at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton will have materials on The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan; staff at the Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring will have materials on the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan; and staff at Wisconsin & Western Ave will have materials on Friendship Heights Sector Plan.

May 19 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

May 21 – The Planning Board will hold its weekly meeting in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor, Wheaton, Md.) and online. Planning Board members will also participate in a bus tour of the Germantown area. Public requests for seats on the tour bus will open on the Planning Board’s website on May 14 or residents may join at any of the listed stops during the tour. Consult the Planning Board agenda prior to the meeting about the time of the tour.

May 21 – Planning staff will be at Montgomery Parks’ Acoustics and Ales from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Flower Avenue Urban Park, 8746 Flower Avenue, Silver Spring, Md. Staff will be available to talk with residents about the Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan.

May 27 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold its meeting in-person (M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, 2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the HPC Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

May 28 – Montgomery Planning’s Historic Preservation Office invites to public to attend the unveiling of a permanent historic marker at Heffner Park, 42 Oswego Avenue, Takoma Park, Md. at 8:30 a.m. The marker is part of the M-NCPPC’s Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories program, an ongoing project to install historic markers around the county that highlight underrepresented topics in local history.

May 28 – The Planning Board will hold its weekly meeting in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their April 2026 calendar of events and meetings.  

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.  

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change. 

April Calendar of Events and Meetings 

April 2 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. 

April 7 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) from 9:30 a.m. to12 Noon  or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

April 8 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting. 

April 9 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. 

April 15 – Montgomery Planning’s Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites community members to a virtual office hours session on Zoom from 12-1:30 p.m. to ask questions/chat with the planning team about the plan. The session will cover all plan topics, with a specific focus on Parks. Register to receive the Zoom link. 

April 16 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. 

April 21 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants. 

April 21 – Montgomery Planning’s Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan is hosting an in-person Preliminary Recommendations Open House for community members at the Long Branch Communication Recreation Center (8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, Md) from 5-8 p.m. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required.

April 22 – Montgomery Planning’s Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites community members to a virtual office hours session on Zoom from 12-1:30 p.m. to ask questions/chat with the planning team about the plan. The session will cover all plan topics, with a specific focus on transportation. Register to receive the Zoom link. 

April 22 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting. 

April 23 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. 

April 28 – Montgomery Planning’s Friendship Heights Sector Plan team invites community members to an in-person office hours session at Wisconsin Avenue Community Recreation Center (5311 Friendship Boulevard, Chevy Chase, Md) from 5:30-7 p.m. to ask questions/chat with the planning team about the plan. The session will cover all plan topics. 

April 29 – Montgomery Planning’s Germantown Sector Plan Amendment team invites community members to an in-person meeting at the Sidney Kramer Upcounty Regional Services Center (12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, Md.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to ask questions/chat with the planning team and ensure that the plan reflects the priorities, concerns, and aspirations of residents.

April 30 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. 

April 30 – The Planning Board will host the first of a three-part Growing Smarter in a Changing Climate speaker series, “Net Zero that Pencils Out: Normalizing Sustainable Development.” The event will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) from 5:45-7:45 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Wheaton, Md. — The Montgomery County Planning Board, one half of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC or The Commission), expresses its strong opposition to Senate Bill 1005. The Planning Board outlined its position at its meeting on Thursday, March 12 and issued the following statement:

“The Montgomery Planning Board strongly opposes this bill and any attempt to undermine the work we are doing on behalf of Montgomery County and the bi-county region. SB 1005 would effectively dismantle the Commission by decentralizing legal, financial, and other administrative services that depend on coordinated bi-county operations and shift those authorities to the planning boards in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. This would increase fragmentation and force Montgomery County to duplicate administrative, technical, and operational functions now shared with Prince George’s County. This loss of efficiency could cost millions of dollars each year, while weakening regional coordination on land use, transportation, parks, and environmental planning. This legislation will only come at the expense of Montgomery County taxpayers during a very tough budget year.

This bill was filed incredibly late in the General Assembly session, limiting the Board’s or the Commission’s ability to comprehensively assess its implications or understand its intent. It represents a fundamental attempt to change how we work and could result in significant disruptions to the parks and planning services our community relies on every day. In addition to the communities we serve, this bill could have long-term impacts on staff and our retirees.

SB1005 was introduced without any prior engagement with the Montgomery County Planning Board and provides no clarity as to why such a substantial change is needed or how this will benefit our residents.

The Planning Board remains committed to protecting the integrity of our organization’s work and its role in the success of the bi-county region. The Board will continue to advocate vigorously on behalf of the public interest and deliver services with excellence, transparency, and purpose.

For these reasons, we urge the General Assembly to reject SB1005.”

The Montgomery County Planning Board oversees the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Department of Parks.

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their March 2026 calendar of events and meetings.

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change.

March Calendar of Events and Meetings

March 5 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. The Planning Board will also host a joint meeting with the Montgomery County Board of Education at 6:30 p.m.

March 10 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants.

March 11 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtual option available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

March 12 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

March 19 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

March 24 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants.

March 25 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtual option available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

March 26 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

March 26 – Montgomery Planning staff is hosting an open house about the new master plan for Wheaton (The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan) from 5 to 8 p.m. in the lobby of M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, Md).

Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department, both part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), announced their February 2026 calendar of events and meetings.

The public can participate in Planning Board meetings by testifying in-person, testifying virtually, over the phone, or by sending written comments on specific agenda items via email by 12 noon two business days before the meeting. Items received after this date and time will not be included in the record. Contact us for accessibility accommodations. The public may attend Planning Board meetings in-person, watch them live or on-demand, or listen over the phone. View individual agendas, which are usually made public 10 days prior to the start of a meeting. Consult the Historic Preservation Commission website for their agenda information.

For more details, review the list of events below. These events are subject to change.

The Montgomery County Planning Department and Planning Board offices will be closed on February 16 in observance of Presidents Day.

February Calendar of Events and Meetings

February 3 – Montgomery Planning staff will present the Friendship Heights Sector Plan Preliminary Recommendations presentation in-person from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Wisconsin Place Community Recreation Center, 5311 Friendship Boulevard, Chevy Chase, MD 20815). There will be a question and answer session after the presentation. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

February 5 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online. The Planning Board will also host a joint meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission in the evening.

February 5 – Montgomery Planning staff will present the Friendship Heights Sector Plan Preliminary Recommendations presentation virtually from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be a question and answer session after the presentation. Registration is required to receive a link to the webinar.

February 10 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters from 9:30 a.m. to12 Noon (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants.

February 11 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

February 12 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

February 19 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.

February 24 – The Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting will be held with options to attend in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon (2425 Reedie Drive, Third Floor, Conference Room #3-202, Wheaton, Md.) or watch the DRC live video stream. The DRC is an inter-agency task force comprised of representatives from Montgomery Planning, the State Highway Administration, the county departments of Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, and utilities such as WSSC and PEPCO. Committee members will discuss development applications with the applicants.

February 25 – The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) at 7 p.m. with a virtualoption available upon request at the discretion of the Commission Chair. To testify on an agenda item, sign up no later than 9 a.m. the day before the meeting.

February 26 – The Planning Board meeting will take place in-person at M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Second Floor Auditorium, Wheaton, Md.) and online.