Bethesda considers going green
Downtown Bethesda might soon be the first “green” urban area in Montgomery County, if it follows a pilot program that is part of the 20-year plan for the area.
County planners are working to ensure that downtown Bethesda, which is one of the largest job centers in the region as well as one of its most urban, grows in a sustainable manner. The plan calls for more trees, energy-efficient buildings, and landscaping to help clean and control storm water runoff.
Under this scheme, several areas in the downtown core would be named “high-performance districts”, with more rigorous standards applied to development there. The environmental part of the three-part project would include condo and office buildings designed to be environmentally friendly, using such resources as solar panels, and landscaping set up to incorporate more green space and trees.
The social aspect of the plan would include more paths and walkways that are better connected, in order to encourage bicycle and pedestrian use. It would also seek to create more gathering places for public use.
The economic goals of the green idea would be to develop more retail space, and provide more affordable housing.
Senior county environmental planner Tina Schneider said that goal is to make Bethesda's downtown a desirable, vivacious place that is regarded as being technically advanced and innovative.
County officials could work with brochure printers to develop a booklet describing the plan, and make it available to city residents.
County planners are working to ensure that downtown Bethesda, which is one of the largest job centers in the region as well as one of its most urban, grows in a sustainable manner. The plan calls for more trees, energy-efficient buildings, and landscaping to help clean and control storm water runoff.
Under this scheme, several areas in the downtown core would be named “high-performance districts”, with more rigorous standards applied to development there. The environmental part of the three-part project would include condo and office buildings designed to be environmentally friendly, using such resources as solar panels, and landscaping set up to incorporate more green space and trees.
The social aspect of the plan would include more paths and walkways that are better connected, in order to encourage bicycle and pedestrian use. It would also seek to create more gathering places for public use.
The economic goals of the green idea would be to develop more retail space, and provide more affordable housing.
Senior county environmental planner Tina Schneider said that goal is to make Bethesda's downtown a desirable, vivacious place that is regarded as being technically advanced and innovative.
County officials could work with brochure printers to develop a booklet describing the plan, and make it available to city residents.