The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County has been studying land use issues in the County for many years and has emphasized agriculture for the past six years. The League develops positions regarding governmental policies through studying the facts relating to issues, discussing the facts among our members and identifying consensus positions achieved through informed member discussion. Because of this process we are able to accurately reflect the views of our membership when we speak for the organization.
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County believes that the Planning Board and its staff have a substantial role to play in maintaining the viability of the Agricultural Reserve not only in conjunction with the recommendations of the AD Hoc Agricultural Policy Working Group, but also through the planning process. The Master Plan process is a means to identify TDR receiving areas and we support intense review of the land and community characteristics prior to designating receiving areas. In developing new Master Plans, we believe a planning goal should be no net loss of receiving areas.
Since 2003, we have supported the planning staff’s developing a mechanism for designating receiving areas in CBD, transit station areas and town centers. We also support limiting the use of TDRs for increased density of non-residential use in commercial, office and R&D development to the so-called 5th TDR. We support the Working Group’s recommendations to require TDRs to be used when rezoning to floating zones results in an increase of residential density
As early as 2004, the League adopted a position favoring a policy that considers preservation of productive farmland to be a primary design consideration for development in the RDT zone, including cluster development where appropriate. Our most recent consensus has expanded this position to include modifying the child lot provision to allow zoning density to be exceeded only by child lots, not by market lots. We also support a five-year minimum holding period before a child lot’s title can be transferred. We support limitations on the utilization of sand mound technology for sewerage disposal in agricultural zones and establishing a requirement in the county for purchasers to be notified of the presence of sand mounds and the need for scheduling maintenance.
Since 2002, the League has supported policies to ensure the
viability of agriculture in
We support the recommendation of the Working Group to clarify the language of the TDR easement to limit land under those easements to agricultural and single family use. We support the Building Lot Termination easement program provided that funds are available for that purpose. We believe the recommendation for non-residential use of the 5th TDR will complement this program well.
Thank you for the opportunity to share are views with you.