December 18 Briefing to the Board

Westbard Charrette
and Concept Framework
Plan
Board Briefing
December 18, 2014

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Westbard
Today

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

A commercial area serving local needs

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Home to 1,967 residents within

The plan boundaries and 19,960
residents in the surrounding
residential communities

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Incomplete accessibility and

poor access to transit

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Yet bisected by one of the regions

greatest amenities:
The Capital Crescent Trail

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Lacking in Central Green Spaces

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

A place with 57 percent impervious

cover

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

History of
Heavy
Industrial
Uses

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

A place where 70% of the

streams are channelized

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

An area with an average household

income of $200,000, about $69,000
higher than the County average

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Westbard
Tomorrow

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Preserve a smaller scale

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Appropriate Density

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

A Mix of Uses

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Diversity of Housing

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Affordability

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Amenities

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Top Ten Concerns in Westbard

Why does the current 1982 plan need updating?
What can be done to maintain the height and density of
redevelopment at a scale appropriate to Westbard?
With overcrowded schools, where will new students be
accommodated?
With overburdened roads and significant cut-through traffic, how will
new traffic be managed?
Can the Westbard Plan incorporate a new village center with good
community services?

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Top Ten Concerns in Westbard

What can be done to improve walking / biking to and from school,
shops, and across River Road?
How can better connections between River Road and Massachusetts
Avenue be achieved without cut-through traffic?
Can Willet Branch Stream be improved and made into natural public
amenity?

How can the light industrial uses be preserved and enhanced?

Can the plan make conditions favorable to preserving family-owned
retail and business services?

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Charrette Re-Cap

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Charrette Re-cap
Day 1: Visioning Session: characteristics and concept;
precedents Eight groups
Day 2: Presentation of three Schematic Diagrams
Day 3: Presentation of two Concept Plans
Day 4: Workday meetings and plan preparation
Day 5: Final Charrette Presentation to Community
Concept Framework Plan includes:

Big Ideas - Vision

A Preliminary Plan
Visualizations and Diagrams
Numbers

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day One: Monday, November 10, 2014

Visioning Exercise produced eight Community Based Plans

Set up Office at Westbard Site

Site Tours for Residents
General Public and Agency Meetings

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day One: Monday, November 10, 2014

Visioning Exercise produced eight Community Based Plans

Great Suburbanism 101 Presentation

Visioning Exercise at Walt Whitman HS
Connections
Open Spaces
Focal Points in Community
Building Types
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day One: Monday, November 10, 2014

Visioning Exercise produced eight Community Based Plans
Key Points/Ideas

Group 1

Group 3

Group 2-Kenwood Place

Streets
River Rd (local & regional traffic)
Connection from River Road to Westbard
Pedestrian connections
Close northern most entry to Giant (2 new entries)
Slow down traffic
Westbard circle parking
Main street within Giant site (new street)
Street lights at corners on River Rd
Curve Westbard at Fairfield
Dorsey Lane going thru near Ridgewells
Create grid of streets and trails
Boulevard on River with five stories at each side
New street between River and Westbard Avenue
Multi modal at Westbard
Roads to disperse traffic
Shuttle circulator to Metro

Group 4

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day One: Monday, November 10, 2014

Visioning Exercise produced eight Community Based Plans
Key Points/Ideas

Group 5

Group 7

Building Types
Housing units effect on schools
Low density housing and shops
Affordable housing
Maintain history
Townhouse scale
Townhouses facing Kenwood Place, Gate Kenwood Place
Westbard higher density than step down
Restaurants, dry clean, grocery, etc
Want town square, civic gathering space
New local library (Giant site)
Group 6-Daylight & Connect No destination regional shopping
Retail both sides Westbard Ave- ample parking

Group 8

Open Space
More green space (industrial area)
Athletic fields, play areas for kids
More access to Capital Crescent trail
Maintain pedestrian flow & green space
Preserve Little Falls pkwy (impervious surface)
Green space/Town Center at Giant shopping center
Encourage walking
Safety for biking across Mass Ave
Hydrangea Proj. Stream buffers, Restore watershed, community green

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Two: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

6:30am-8:30am

Sunrise Series
Meeting with business owners
9am -5 pm
Meetings with Citizens Associations and individual
residents
Received community input in the form of comment
cards, sketches and notes
Staff prepared 3 Schematic Diagrams derived from
Community Visioning Session on Monday

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Two: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS
Presentation and Feedback on three Scheme Diagrams:

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Scheme 3

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Two: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS - Three Scheme Diagrams:
Scheme Diagram 1: Large Ideas

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Reconfigure Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard

Potential New School Site at Ridgefield Rd.
Create Neighborhood Green at Giant Site
New Grid at Giant Site
Potential Expansion of Westland MS
New CC Street from Westbard to River
New trails connections to CC Trail
New Internal Streets throughout
Restoration of Willett Branch
Butler St. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
Dorsey Ln. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
Largest amount of L. Industrial to Remain

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Two: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS - Three Scheme Diagrams:
Scheme Diagram 2: Large Ideas
Reconfigure Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard
Potential New School Site Westland MS Site
Create Central Square and Library at Giant
Site
New Grid at Giant Site
New CC Street from Westbard to River
New trails connections to CC Trail
New Internal Streets throughout
Restoration of Willett Branch
Butler St. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
Dorsey Ln. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
Small amount of L. Industrial to Remain
New residential at former Library Site

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Two: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS - Three Scheme Diagrams:
Scheme Diagram 3: Large Ideas
Keep Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard
Potential New School Site at Library Site
Create Central Square and Library at Giant
Site
New Grid at Giant Site
New CC Street from Westbard to River
New trails connections to CC Trail
north of Crown ROW
New Internal Streets throughout
Restoration of Willett Branch
No Little Falls connections
Smallest amount of L. Industrial to Remain

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Three: Thursday, November 13, 2014

6:30am-8:30am
Sunrise Series
Meeting with individual citizens
9am -5 pm
Meetings with Citizens Associations and
individual residents
Livestreamed all meetings
Received community input in the form of
comment cards, sketches and notes
Staff prepared two concept plans based on
community feedback Wednesday evening
Corrections and modifications
Additions
Further Refinements
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Three: Thursday, November 13, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS
Presentation and Feedback on two Concept Plans:

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Three: Thursday, November 13, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS - Two Concept Plans:
Concept 1: Large Ideas Highest Density

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Reconfigure Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard

Potential New School Site at Library Site.
Create Town Square at Giant Site
New Library at Town Square
New Grid at Giant Site
Potential Expansion of Westland MS
New CC Street from Westbard to River, north
of Crown St. ROW
New trails connections to CC Trail
New Internal Streets throughout
Restoration of Willett Branch
Butler St. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
A new Dorsey Ln. (west of current location)
Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
Largest amount of L. Industrial to Remain
75 Tall along River Road
50 Tall along Westbard except at Ridgefield
at 100 Tall.
120 Tall at Park Bethesda site

montgomeryplanning.org

November 18 Presentation of Concept Plan

Day Three: Thursday, November 13, 2014

6-9 pm at Walt Whitman HS - Two Concept Plans:
Concept 2: Large Ideas Lower Density

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Reconfigure Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard

Potential New School Site at Ridgefield Rd.
Create Town Green at Giant Site
New Grid at Giant Site
New Westbard to River Rd. street, behind
Westwood Tower
New trails connections to CC Trail
New Internal Streets throughout
Restoration of Willett Branch
Butler St. Connection to Little Falls Pkwy.
A new Dorsey Ln. loop
Small amount of L. Industrial to Remain
50 Tall along River Road
50 Tall along Westbard except at Ridgefield
at 75 Tall.
75 Tall at Park Bethesda site

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Existing Site

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Preliminary Concept Framework Plan

Reconfigure Ridgefield Rd. at Westbard
Daylighting of Willett Branch

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Preliminary Concept Framework Plan

New Street Grid a Giant Site
New Civic Plaza and Library at Giant Site

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Preliminary Concept Framework Plan

New Crescent Trail Road from
Westbard to River Rd.
New Grid of Streets
Additions to Westland MS
New School Site at old Library
Site
Butler Road to Little Falls Pkwy.
Connection

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Concept Framework Plan

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Concept Framework Plan with alternate Streets

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Heights
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

New Streets and Civic Buildings

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Open Spaces and Trails

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

Land Uses

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

River Road/Capital Crescent Trail

Plan View
Crosswalks, new sidewalks, on-street bikeways,
street trees, and consolidated driveways
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

River Road/Capital Crescent Trail Perspective View

Urban Boulevard with new crosswalks, new sidewalks, on-street bikeways, street trees,
and consolidated driveways
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

75 heights

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

50 heights

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

75 heights

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

50 heights

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Community Concerns
Individuals and civic associations visited the charrette site and came to two large
community meetings held as part of the charrette process. Residents concerns fell into
these major categories:
Commercial development
Some residents stressed the desirability of maintaining Westbards
neighborhood serving retail, while others saw merit in supplementing it
with more broadly attractive services
Some stressed importance of existing light industrial and service uses and
urged their retention
Density and height
Some questioned the need to increase commercial and particularly
residential densities on the Equity One properties and along River Road
Many residents wanted heights limited to 50 feet throughout Westbard;
others considered additional height acceptable

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Community Concerns
Traffic
Many residents felt that additional density in Westbard would exacerbate
substantial existing traffic congestion and increase use of neighborhood
streets
Some were concerned that creating a Main Street on Westbard Avenue
would preclude its use by commuters
Some were also concerned about the impact of Intelligence Campus
workers on Westbards road network
Schools
Residents strongly felt that existing capacity constraints in the Whitman
Cluster were intolerable and that additional development would simply
increase the problem
Many questioned forecasting methods and recommended school
capacity increases prior to any development

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org

December 18 Briefing to the Board

Next Steps
December & January 2014, February, 2015: Staff prepares PlanWestbard
Preliminary Recommendations
March, 2015 : Planning Staff presents preliminary recommendation to Planning
Board
May, 2015: Planning Staff presents PlanWestbard Staff Draft Plan to Planning Board
and requests that it be published for public comment as the PlanWestbard Public
Hearing Draft.
Summer, 2015: Planning Board Public Hearing on the PlanWestbard Public Hearing
Draft
Summer, Fall, 2015: Planning staff worksessions with Planning Board
Fall 2015: Deliver Planning Board Plan Westbard Draft to County Executive for 60
day review period
Winter 2016: Council Public Hearing (tentative)
M-NCPPC Montgomery County Planning Department

montgomeryplanning.org