Abstract This Plan contains the text and supporting maps for a comprehensive amendment to portions of the approved and adopted 1992 North Bethesda/Garrett Park Master Plan and the 2002 Potomac Subregion Master Plan, as amended. It also amends The General Plan (On Wedges and Corridors) for the Physical Development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, as amended; the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, as amended; and the Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan, as amended. This Plan covers 535 acres and makes recommendations for land use, density, zoning, transportation, environment, parks, and community facilities. Master and sector plans convey land use policy for defined geographic areas and should be interpreted together with relevant countywide functional plans and County laws and regulations. Plan recommendations provide comprehensive guidelines for the use of public and private land and should be referred to by public officials and private individuals when making land use decisions. Public and private land use decisions that promote plan goals are essential to fulfilling a plan’s vision. Master and sector plans look ahead 20 years from the date of adoption, although they are intended to be revised every 10 to 15 years. Moreover, circumstances when a plan is adopted will change and the specifics of a plan may become less relevant over time. Plans do not specify all development possibilities. Their sketches are for illustrative purposes only, intended to convey a sense of desirable future character rather than detailed recommendations for a particular design. Source of Copies The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Online at montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/area-2/rock-spring/ The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency created by the General Assembly of Maryland in 1927. The Commission’s geographic authority extends to the great majority of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties; the Maryland-Washington Regional District (M-NCPPC planning jurisdiction) comprises 1,001 square miles, while the Metropolitan District (parks) comprises 919 square miles, in the two counties. The Commission is charged with preparing, adopting, and amending or extending The General Plan (On Wedges and Corridors) for the Physical Development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The Commission operates in each County through Planning Boards appointed by those County governments. The Boards are responsible for all local plans, zoning amendments, subdivision regulations, and administration of parks. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission encourages the involvement and participation of individuals with disabilities, and its facilities are accessible. For assistance with special needs (e.g., large print materials, listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.), please contact the M-NCPPC Montgomery County Commissioners Office, 301-495-4605 or at mcp- [email protected]. Maryland residents can also use the free Maryland Relay Service for assistance with calls to or from hearing or speech impaired persons; for information, go to www.mdrelay.org/ or call (866) 269-9006. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 5 Plan Framework ..................................................................................................................... 6 Background and Context ....................................................................................................... 7 Strengths and Challenges .................................................................................................... 11 Development Activity .......................................................................................................... 12 Outreach ............................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2 Rock Spring Tomorrow: Land Uses, Zoning and Design ........................................ 15 Vision .................................................................................................................................... 15 Rock Spring Concept ............................................................................................................ 16 Overarching Goals ................................................................................................................ 18 Zoning and Design Overview .................................................................................... 19 Rock Spring East/Village Center………………………………………………………………….24 - Zoning Recommendations ........................................................................... 24 - Design and Connectivity Guidance for Rock Spring East ........................... 27 Rock Spring Central/Mixed-Use Business Campus………………………………………29 - Zoning Recommendations ........................................................................... 30 - Design and Connectivity Guidance for Rock Spring Central ...................... 32 Rock Spring West/Mixed-Use Regional Marketplace…………………………………..33 - Zoning Recommendations ........................................................................... 33 - Design and Connectivity Guidance for Rock Spring West .......................... 35 Chapter 3 Environment and Sustainability .............................................................................. 37 Overview .................................................................................................................... 37 Forest and Tree Cover and Impervious Surfaces………………………………………….37 Greenhouse Gas Modeling…………………………………………………………………………..38 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis for Rock Spring…………………………………….39 Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................. 39 Recommendations .................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4 Community Facilities ................................................................................................ 43 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 43 Public Schools ............................................................................................................ 43 Parks, Trails, and Open Space ................................................................................... 47 Existing Conditions………………………………………………………………………………………47 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Goals ……………………………………………………………49 PROS Plan Urban Park Hierarchy…………………………………………………………………49 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………51 Police, Fire and Rescue .............................................................................................. 54 Libraries ...................................................................................................................... 55 Recreation Centers .................................................................................................... 55 3 Chapter 5 Transportation and Connectivity ............................................................................ 57 Overview .................................................................................................................... 57 Transit Network ......................................................................................................... 57 Roadway Network………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59 Bicycle Network ......................................................................................................... 64 Pedestrian Network .................................................................................................. 67 Transportation Demand Management .................................................................... 68 Chapter 6 Implementation…………………………………………………………………………………………69 Sectional Map Amendment ...................................................................................... 69 Public Benefits ........................................................................................................... 69 Capital Improvements Program ............................................................................... 70 Figures Figure 1 Rock Spring Master Plan Area………………………………………………………………………….5 Figure 2 Rock Spring Context…………………………………………………………………………………………6 Figure 3 North Bethesda Master Plans and Sector Plans………………………………………………..8 Figure 4 Wedges and Corridors Geographic Components………………………………………………9 Figure 5 Existing Land Use………………………………………………………………………………………..12 Figure 6 Rock Spring Pipeline Projects…………………………………………………………………………..13 Figure 7 Rock Spring Concept Diagram………………………………………………………………………….17 Figure 8 Existing Zoning………………………………………………………………………………………………..20 Figure 9 Proposed Zoning……………………………………………………………………………………………..21 Figure 10 Rock Spring East/Village Center Proposed Zoning…………………………………………..25 Figure 11 Rock Spring Central/Mixed-Use Business Campus Proposed Zoning……………….31 Figure 12 Rock Spring West/Mixed-Use Regional Marketplace Proposed Zoning……………34 Figure 13 Tree Cover………..……………………………………………………………………………………….38 Figure 14 Impervious Cover..…………………………………………………………………………………….40 Figure 15 Community