Council Votes To Support Removed Amenities

Last night, the Kensington Town Council voted to stand by the town's initial zoning proposal, which contains requirements for public amenities such as way-finding, tree canopies and vegetated roofs.

Those requirements were removed from the proposed zoning code by the county's Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee in July, and last night's vote follows a .

The resolution, which passed 3-0, states that the town opposes the PHED's proposed changes to the code. Council Member Lydia Sullivan was absent from the meeting.

The Council passed the resolution in hopes that it will sway the County Council when it takes up the PHED's recommendations and decides on the town's future zoning.

Council Member Mackie Barch, who co-chairs the Revitalization Committee, said maintaining the initial zoning codes is integral to Kensington's redevelopment efforts.

"The (zoning text amendment) is the product of countless public meetings," he said. "It has a ton of community buy-in."

The Council voted to table a second resolution, which would support the design guidelines proposed by the county Planning Department, because the town needs to take its time with the guidelines before voting on them, Barch said.

"It needs to be a living document that encourages continuity of design without becoming burdensome," Barch said. "That's why we need more time to digest it."

The PHED Committee will next discuss the proposed zoning changes at a meeting Sept. 19, which will be televised on County Cable Montgomery.