Montgomery County’s landscape is defined by land use. It shapes communities, guides infrastructure, and affects the natural environment. When land uses and development are well designed and built in appropriate locations, everyone benefits. Residents benefit with quiet streets, sociable neighborhoods, and convenient services. Businesses benefit with good transportation access, a satisfied workforce, and better community relations. Governments and service providers benefit with efficient systems, a strong tax base, and a healthy natural ecosystem. When poor land use decisions are made, sprawl spreads, taxes increase, traffic congestion intensifies, neighborhood cohesion erodes, and the natural environment declines.
From 1970 to 2000, developed land in the county increased from under 32 percent of the total county area to nearly 54 percent. Over these 30 years, the county experienced rapid suburbanization and became a major employment and retail center for the region. This growth has satisfied market demand but has too often been poorly designed, disconnected from the community, and inadequately served by existing roads and infrastructure. The cumulative impact has been a sprawling and inefficient land use pattern. If this pattern continues, it will consume most of our remaining open space, increase government expenses, and lead to a more fragmented landscape. The Land Use Plan shows how new development can be accommodated in a better way that reduces sprawl, revitalizes older areas, preserves open space, and provides new housing and employment opportunities while meeting market demand.
