New Plan Offers a Fresh Vision for Growth in Clarksburg Communities between I-270 and MD 355
Rockville, Md. – The Montgomery County Council has officially approved the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan, encompassing a detailed framework aimed at revitalizing underdeveloped regions of Clarksburg situated to the east of I-270 and west of Frederick Road (MD 355). These areas have seen little to no progress over the past three decades and represent a significant opportunity for thoughtful growth over the coming twenty years.
Over the last two and a half years, the Montgomery County Planning Department, a part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), has crafted this plan following extensive community feedback and thorough research. The recommendations in the plan aim to address decades of minimal development in the eastern sector by promoting mixed-use zoning, enhancing transportation infrastructure, and conserving natural and historic resources to foster a vibrant and interconnected community.
The County Council’s decision follows a public hearing held on January 21, 2026, in addition to a series of work sessions held during the winter to fine-tune the proposal. The Montgomery County Planning Board recommended the plan for approval in December 2025 following its afternoon and evening public hearings on September 25, 2025, along with subsequent work sessions. The County Council’s modifications will be incorporated into the approved plan document, which will be made available on the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan website once finalized.
“During the planning process, community members expressed their desire for a more connected neighborhood, not just through enhanced roads and transit, but also via parks, trails, and public spaces that foster social gatherings,” stated Planning Board Chair Artie Harris. “This plan outlines a definitive vision for a cohesive and interconnected Clarksburg, where new housing, businesses, amenities, and transportation options develop alongside the preservation of natural and historical assets. It equips Clarksburg with a forward-thinking framework while being rooted in the community’s character.”
“This sector plan pertains to one of the last unfulfilled sections of Clarksburg’s 1994 master plan, and the landscape has transformed significantly over the last 30 years,” remarked Montgomery Planning Director Jason K. Sartori. “Our team acknowledged that the initial concept for a light industrial and employment zone is no longer feasible. Instead, there is a remarkable opportunity for this area to transform into a mixed-use, transit-oriented center that best serves the Clarksburg community both now and in the future.”
Key Aspects of the Plan
Informed by community feedback and assessments of the current conditions within the plan area, as well as projected future trends, the following key components of the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan align a new community vision for Clarksburg with approved county plans, policies, and priorities:
- After thorough evaluations aimed at fostering economic growth and achieving the plan’s objectives, it is recommended that the former COMSAT Laboratories building not be classified as a historic structure. However, the plan does recognize the building’s historical importance and supports mitigation measures for any proposed partial or complete demolition. Learn more about how this decision was reached.
- The plan proposes rezoning the previous COMSAT property, allowing for a diverse range of development types. It envisions part of the property dedicated predominantly to residential uses, a portion set aside for a compact, mixed-use activity center incorporating various residential, retail, and recreational opportunities, and another section designated for major employers in key industries, including professional office, manufacturing, and life sciences.
- A new highway interchange with I-270 at Little Seneca Parkway Extended will be constructed to serve the southern segment of the plan area.
- Observation Drive will be connected throughout the plan area in alignment with upcoming developments, adjusting the initially planned roadway configuration away from environmentally sensitive zones and residential areas.
- Existing employment-focused zones will be rezoned to commercial-residential categories, providing greater development flexibility with slight increases to maximum permissible development density.
- All new residential developments will be required to include a minimum of 15% of their total units as Moderately Priced Dwelling Units.
- Land alongside the stream valleys of Little Seneca Creek and its tributaries will be preserved through private conservation easements or by establishing or expanding public parklands.
- The County Council’s approval of the plan includes the designation of the Community of Faith United Methodist Church and the Clarksburg Heights subdivision as historic sites under the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation.
Further Insights on the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan
The Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan serves as an update to the 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan and Hyattstown Special Area Study, which received updates through the 2011 Clarksburg Master Plan and Hyattstown Special Study Area Limited Amendment and the 2014 Ten Mile Creek Area Limited Amendment. This planning area encompasses approximately 969 acres, bordered by I-270 to the west, West Old Baltimore Road and Little Seneca Greenway to the south, Clarksburg Road to the north, and Frederick Road (MD 355) to the east.
The plan synthesizes policy directives from various countywide initiatives, including Corridor Forward: The I-270 Transit Plan, the Pedestrian Master Plan, Complete Streets Design Guide, Thrive Montgomery 2050, the Climate Action Plan, and Vision Zero, and incorporates a robust outreach and engagement strategy aimed at promoting racial equity and social justice.
