FAQs

What's a 15 minute city?

Montgomery County Planning defines it as:

As the Congress for the New Urbanism puts it, “The ‘15-minute city’ may be defined as an ideal geography where most human needs and many desires are located within a travel distance of 15 minutes. While automobiles may be accommodated in the 15-minute city, they cannot determine its scale or urban form.”

Source: https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/master-plan-list/general-plans/thrive-montgomery-2050/complete-communities/#:~:text=As%20the%20Congress%20for%20the,its%20scale%20or%20urban%20form.%E2%80%9D

Does montgomery county envision a 15 minute city?

Yes. Here ae some exceprts from the Thrive MoCo 2050 plan, which was passed in October 2022:

https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Item10_Attachment-1-Working-Draft-Plan-Thrive-Montgomery-2050-final.pdf

"As the county is running out of vacant land to support a low-density sprawl, our car-oriented transportation network is not designed to support a competitive economy in compact and Complete Communities with 15-minute living nor address the needs of households who cannot afford or do not want to own a car. The current pattern will continue to increase our transportation related greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts to sustainability." Page 22

"The goal is to create Complete Communities that are diverse and can provide most essential services within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or drive. The Plan calls it 15-minute living." Page 32

"The idea of Complete Communities with 15-minute living is the land use answer to many of the issues we are facing today including the racial and economic segregation of our communities, housing affordability, and increased greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle miles traveled. " Page 32

"Vision for Safe and Efficient Travel

In 2050, Montgomery County’s high quality transportation system plays a critical role in supporting the county’s economic health, environmental resilience, and equity. County residents shifted from heavy reliance on private vehicles to walking, bicycling, and public transit. This safe, reliable, and efficient transit network is composed of Metrorail, Purple Line, commuter rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) and regional and local buses, and a robust network of sidewalks, bikeways, and trails. A large majority of people use the system to connect to their destinations within the county and the region. Technologies such as micromobility, autonomous vehicles, and ridesharing offer new options for transportation. Some of this technology increases transit ridership by making it easier for people to connect to rail or BRT. Major roadways are transformed into safe and attractive boulevards with reduced speeds, frequent safe crossings, trees and dedicated lanes for transit. Walkways and 8 County Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, 2018. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/green/climate/ghg-inventory.html Working Draft Plan- Thrive Montgomery 2050 74 bikeways, as well as crossings are safe enough to allow children to walk and bike to nearby schools. In major commercial centers, downtowns and town centers, a dense mix of land uses, slow motor vehicle speeds and high quality walkways and bikeways make walking, bicycling, rolling and micromobility the preferred modes of travel. All greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are eliminated from the transportation system thanks to the significant reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and the conversion of all motorized vehicles to renewable energy." Page 73

I thought the

university blvd. corridor plan

was just going to increase traffic...

Actually, it envisions more than that. If passed, it will rezone the Yeshiva, Kemp Mill Shopping Center, University Towers, and many Kemp Mill streets such as Monticello, Arcola, Hoyt, Kenbrook, etc.

What will the yeshiva be rezoned to?

ROW (Right of Way)

has it ever happened that a small business or house of worship had to close down to accommodate the greater good?

Yes.

The carwash on Georgia and Seminary rd was rezoned to Right of Way (ROW) and then shut down for bicycle and pedestrian safety

"April 2025: The frontage road servicing the businesses along MD 97 northbound, between Columbia Boulevard and Seminary Place, will permanently close to accommodate the upcoming utility relocation work."

Source: https://mdot-sha-md97-md390-to-md192-mo2242115-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/

House of worship taken by Montgomery County (they exercised eminent domain):

Old School Building

Takoma Park Montgomery County, MD

Initial Offer: $500,000

Final Award: $2,000,000

MNCPPC condemned the old school building to create a neighborhood park. The building was owned and being used by a church group and MNCPPC took it over

Why didn't I know about this?

I thought the montgomery County council and planning board are supposed do community outreach.

Yes, they are required to do community outreach. You can mention your frustration/outrage when you call/email them.

There's a lot of technical jargon and it's overwhelming.

Idk what they are saying half the time. What's the bottom line?

Bottom line is that Thrive Moco 2050 is a plan that was passed unbeknownst to constituents, and it stated Montgomery County's plans to turn our neighborhood into a 15 minute city. Now, the Univ. Blvd. Corridor Plan is trying to actualize these plans through incentivizing developers (they passed a 20 year tax abatement to developers through a bill called More Housing NOW), and we have a slim opportunity to stop it.

Ask your rabbi what the appropriate action steps are!

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