Residents are encouraged to register as of August 3 to provide their insights on recommendations aimed at revitalizing downtown, enhancing community amenities, increasing affordable housing options, and improving safe access to parks and transportation, among other initiatives.
WHEATON, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Board, a component of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), will conduct a two-part public hearing on September 10 and September 14, 2026, regarding the draft Friendship Heights Sector Plan. The plan outlines the boundaries for downtown Friendship Heights, the commercial properties along Wisconsin Avenue extending to River Road, and includes the areas within the Village of Friendship Heights and Chevy Chase Village.
“This public hearing provides an excellent opportunity for the community to actively participate in shaping the vision for Friendship Heights over the next two to three decades, and we invite residents, employees, visitors, and other stakeholders to bring their viewpoints to the Planning Board in September,” stated plan lead Atara Margolies. “This initiative builds on the existing strengths of Friendship Heights while utilizing key opportunity sites to introduce new uses and amenities that will attract more visitors, enhance local retail experiences, and foster a more diverse and vibrant mixed-use downtown area.”
The first session of the Planning Board’s public hearing is scheduled for September 10 at 1:30 p.m., during the Board’s regular weekly meeting to be held in the Planning Board Auditorium located on the second floor of The M-NCPPC’s headquarters in Wheaton (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902). Participants can provide testimony both in-person and virtually through Microsoft Teams.
The second part of the public hearing will take place on September 14 at 4 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814). This session will be an in-person only opportunity for testimony.
Both meetings will be streamed live and later made available on demand on the Planning Board’s official website.
Registration to Testify
Beginning Monday, August 3, individuals can register to testify at one of the public hearing sessions before the Planning Board. Board members will be present at both hearings, offering two different dates and locations to ensure accessibility and encourage public participation. All testimony will be recorded and considered in the official documentation. To allow as many people as possible to voice their opinions, participants are asked to select only one public hearing date, as duplicate testimonies will not be accepted. Written comments can also be submitted via email to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org or through traditional mail addressed to Chair Artie Harris, Montgomery County Planning Board, 2425 Reedie Drive, 14th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902.
Access the Friendship Heights Sector Plan Working Draft for review.
The Working Draft represents the initial comprehensive draft of the plan, developed from preliminary recommendations made by Montgomery Planning staff, which were shared with the Planning Board on February 12, 2026 and with the community during two meetings in June 2026. This draft integrates the Planning Board’s feedback regarding the preliminary suggestions, as well as insights gathered from the community. The Planning Board has now approved the Working Draft as the Public Hearing Draft, which will soon be available on the plan’s dedicated website. Following the public hearing, the Planning Board will engage in a series of work sessions this fall to refine the plan based on community input and its evaluation of the Public Hearing Draft. Subsequently, the finalized plan will be submitted to the Montgomery County Council for its own public assessment and approval process before being sent to the County Executive for review and comment.
Friendship Heights Sector Plan Overview
The Friendship Heights Sector Plan marks a significant advancement in defining the future of one of Montgomery County’s most vibrant urban locales. Building upon the earlier 1998 Friendship Heights CBD (Central Business District) Sector Plan and drawing from the 2024 Friendship Heights Urban Design Study, this updated sector plan reflects a thorough understanding of the community’s changing needs.
This updated vision, informed by prior studies, aims to create a more interconnected, livable, and sustainable environment in Friendship Heights over the next two to three decades. The strategies proposed include addressing land use regulations, creating transit-oriented housing, improving parks and public spaces, enhancing transportation networks, implementing climate resilience measures, and safeguarding natural and historical resources. Together, these components pave the way for a thriving urban area that caters to the needs of residents, workers, and visitors alike.
Major Recommendations in the Working Draft
- Facilitate the redevelopment of opportunity sites within the plan area while encouraging the integration of valued neighborhood amenities.
- Establish clear standards for the transition between mixed-use developments and nearby single-family residential neighborhoods.
- Encourage more affordable housing options, including larger units for families and those designed for deeper affordability.
- Incorporate new public spaces as part of future developments and enhance visibility and accessibility to all parks and open areas.
- Prioritize safety through improved pedestrian and cycling routes that connect Friendship Heights with neighboring communities, including Washington, D.C.
- Enhance public transportation access by proposing dedicated transit lanes down Wisconsin Avenue leading to the Friendship Heights Metro Station.
- Safeguard natural assets such as tree canopies, wooded areas, and streams, while promoting sustainable building practices.
