Council Approves Veirs Mill Road Master Plan

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve the Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan.

The plan — initiated by the Montgomery County Planning Department in January of 2017 — focuses on "neighborhood access to the anticipated bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, compatibility with adjoining land uses, potential redevelopment opportunities, and improved connectivity," according to county officials. It also aims to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and those using public transit within the Veirs Mill Road corridor.

The plan extends approximately four miles, from the City of Rockville to the Wheaton Central Business District and the Vicinity Sector Plan boundary.

On Feb. 7, the Council held a public hearing in Silver Spring, where residents had the opportunity to testify and voice their concerns about the plan.

"I'm very proud of this plan, which responds to the concerns we heard from the community about the safety of Veirs Mill Road and the need to keep the area affordable," said Councilmember Hans Riemer, who chairs the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee. "We are pioneering a new approach to allowing redevelopment while preserving affordability. If fully built out over the next 20 to 30 years, the plan would result in many more affordable units than exist today and calls for a sufficient amount of new units that conform to the County's moderately priced dwelling unit policy to more than offset the loss of existing units."

The Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan is the first of its kind to be developed following the county's adoption of a Vision Zero policy in 2016. The county's Vision Zero plan aims to reduce severe and fatal collisions by 35 percent for drivers and their passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists by November 2019.

The newly adopted master plan aims to reimagine the busy Veirs Mill Road as a crucial component of the surrounding communities by enhancing connectivity and safety, according to officials.

If fully implemented, the Council believes the plan can make safety a top priority and serve as a model for other corridors across Montgomery County.

"This master plan combines several different aspects of smart planning in the County and is the first master plan to focus on our Vision Zero goals," said Council President Nancy Navarro. "I am also proud of the work of my colleagues to emphasize the importance of preserving affordable housing in one of the County's most diverse corridors. This plan should serve as the framework for how the Council reviews future master plans and engages with our constituents."