Automatic prohibitions on new residential development could become a thing of the past across most of Montgomery County under a proposal backed by county planners that could pass later this year.
The policy change would effectively end the development moratorium system put in place years ago, which requires freezes on new residential construction in areas with overcrowded schools and other infrastructure needs. The system has long been the bane of local business interests, as it has walled off attractive neighborhoods such as Silver Spring and Bethesda from development, but it’s popular among some parents concerned about school conditions.
The new plan ensures that some areas of the county could still see automatic moratoriums if schools become overcrowded. But officials envision only targeting places where new “greenfield” development could occur for the restrictions, as large subdivisions tend to draw the most families with young children.
In practice, that would mean that only areas clustered around Clarksburg would see construction freezes — about 7.2% of the county’s land area.
