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Politics & Government

County Planning Board Approves Kensington Design Guidelines

Document illustrates the improvements suggested by the sector plan.

The Montgomery County Planning Board last week unanimously approved the Kensington Sector Plan's design guidelines, which illustrate the sector plan's recommendations and provide a framework for redevelopment of parts of Kensington. 

Kensington’s revitalization committee, mayor and council initially presented a draft to the planning board in July 2011, according to senior planner Michael Brown. A revised copy was presented again to the planning board in November 2011 and then was sent to the County Council for review.

After the County Council approved the sector plan in March 2012, planners set about illustrating the changes proposed by the sector plan in a detailed pamphlet. 

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Finally, a completed document was presented to the Planning Board at their March 7 meeting. Kensington Town Councilmember Tracy Furman and resident Duane Rollins both attended the meeting to lend their support to the proposal. 

The document features 40 pages of detailed descriptions and images of proposed changes to Kensington. These include ways of improving congestion and traffic, creating public spaces and pedestrian walkways, and adding new development that fits with the town’s historic character. 

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Specific initiatives outlined by the document include adding more green spaces along Howard Avenue, creating more street uses along Metropolitan, Connecticut, and Howard avenues to create a more active town center, and adding more public amenities and seating in open spaces.

“I want to make it clear that the town supports the proposed guidelines, and will work to implement them to improve Kensington,” Furman said during the Planning Board meeting. 

After a presentation by Brown and statements of support from Furman and Rollins, Chair Françoise Carrier opened the floor to questions, but no one asked any of Brown, Furman or Rollins. Carrier then called for a vote and the design guidelines passed unanimously. 

“We’re excited that the guidelines passed, and now it is time to start working on carrying out the sector plan,” said Mayor Peter Fosselman. 

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