Opposition to Town Sector Zone Change for Montgomery Village

February 6, 2014

To: Montgomery County Council

Subject: Opposition to Town Sector Zone Change for Montgomery Village

A planned community, Montgomery Village (MV) with a population of 40,000 citizens has maintained open space and environmental preserves as its signature feature for the past 45 years. For many, the crown jewel of Montgomery Village is the golf course. In recognition of this, MV developer Kettler made a documented commitment to the resident buyers adjacent to the golf course that the golf course would remain a golf course enticing these resident buyers adjacent to the golf course to pay a lot premium. 

Plans for development of the Village golf course are being formulated. Despite the need for smart growth, the developer plan calling for 550-600 housing units is double resident expectations and exceeds the threshold for smart growth. A plan that would eliminate this crown jewel golf course is not smart growth. This housing target is excessive and would consume and exceed  the remaining Town Sector Zone credits, making it a non-starter. Instead, the developer should commit to formulating a pricing strategy for a revised number of homes it plans to sell that would keep the golf course a golf course for the next ten years until 2025 and to renovate the club house.

The Village community opposes any increase to the Town Sector Zone for Montgomery Village. While both traffic and environment  factor into this opposition, the people genuinely love the Village especially its crown jewel golf course. What has protected the way of life of Montgomery Village all these years? The Town Sector Zone.

As a forty-five year resident of Montgomery Village and a concerned citizen, I do not support a zoning text amendment to the Montgomery Village Town Zone Sector and urge the Montgomery County Council to reject any amendments.

Don O’Neill

Montgomery Village