The Montgomery County Council voted 7-3 early last week to approve the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, which it says makes recommendations to address traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability and economic growth in the region.
The plan impacts a 3.5-mile stretch along University Boulevard between Wheaton and the Capital Beltway, according to Montgomery Planning. The plan examines opportunities for new development, bikeways and bus rapid transit, and the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, public transportation stops and safe access.
The recommendations also include a range of residential housing options for existing detached residential properties and new construction on larger vacant properties, according to a press release.
“In partnership with the community, we have crafted a plan that prioritizes safety for all users of University Boulevard and creates new housing opportunities in the corridor,” said Council President Natali Fani-González in the press release. “The University Boulevard Corridor is already [a] great place to live, and with carefully and narrowly tailored enhancements in the plan, it will be even better, more inclusive, and safer for all.”
“The University Boulevard Corridor Plan marks a major step forward in making our communities safer, more connected, greener, and more accessible for everyone who uses our streets, especially students who attend the two high schools in the plan area,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson, chair of the planning, housing and parks committee.
Friedson spoke to the importance of prioritizing pedestrian safety, improving street crossings, expanding multimodal options and calming “dangerous traffic patterns.”
The final plan includes these changes:
- The Kemp Mill Shopping Center, Kemp Mill Urban Park and the Yeshiva of Greater Washington site are no longer included in the plan.
- The rezoning of detached residential properties is limited to properties adjacent to University Boulevard and Colesville Road.
- Language is included in the plan to enable the production of workforce housing units in specific areas along University Boulevard when building three or more housing units.
- Building heights are reduced on nearly all of the properties being rezoned, in response to community concerns.
- Vehicle through-connections were converted to paved trails to improve pedestrian access to University Boulevard without increasing traffic through neighborhoods. Four Corners also saw “enhanced sidewalks, buffers and crossings” to promote pedestrian safety.
