Planning Commission Memo
MEETING DATE: February 25, 2026
REPORT DATE: February 19, 2026
RESPONSIBLE STAFF: Holly Simmons/Jim Wasilak
SUBJECT:
title
Recommendation to the Mayor and Council on Zoning Text Amendment Application TXT2026-00271, for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and Map Amendment Application MAP2026-00126, for the Comprehensive Map Amendment; Mayor and Council of Rockville, Applicants
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DISCUSSION:
The Rockville 2040 Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the Mayor and Council in 2021. The Plan contains a broad vision for the city’s future and contains goals, objective and specific recommendations for land use and zoning, among many other subject areas. Adoption of a new Zoning Ordinance and zoning map is the vehicle to enact those policy recommendations into law. In addition to implementing the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan, the new Zoning Ordinance and map are intended to implement the recommendations of the FAST II process (Faster, Accountable, Streamlined and Transparent) that is intended to simplify and streamline the development review and permitting processes.
The Mayor and Council authorized the filing of the zoning text amendment application for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and the zoning map amendment application for the Comprehensive Map Amendment on December 1, 2025. Per the current Zoning Ordinance, for each application the Planning Commission may submit a written recommendation to the Mayor and Council, which will be placed in the application file by the Clerk and become a part of the record on the application.
The Planning Commission held public hearings and work sessions on January 14 and 28 as well as February 4 and 11, and made recommendations on a variety of topics. The resulting recommendations are contained in draft memos for the zoning text amendment and zoning map amendment (see Attachments 1 and 3, respectively). These memos are planned for review and adoption at the Planning Commission’s February 25 meeting. In addition, the written public comment received through February 11, the date of the last work session, is also attached for reference.
In all instances, staff endeavored to accurately reflect the Commission’s recommendations. For awareness, staff highlights two topics where the draft memos may slightly differ.
Zoning Ordinance Recommendation: Historic Preservation Multifamily Conversion
The Commission recommended allowing single unit detached homes in the Historic District Overlay District to be converted to small multifamily buildings. While this proposal has merit in terms of providing additional housing opportunities and could aid in preserving historic structures, it represents a significant policy change that is not contemplated by the Comprehensive Plan or other policy documents. The Planning Commission’s draft recommendation memo includes this recommendation; however, staff recommend that this change be considered through an update to the Plan or other future initiative to allow for neighborhood and public engagement.
CMA Recommendation: RMD-25 Limiting Language
The Commission recommended limiting the density on property zoned RMD-25 if any access is provided from a secondary residential street. Following the Commission’s recommendation, staff further evaluated existing RMD-25 zoned properties to ensure the recommended language would not have unintended consequences, such as inadvertently limiting access or rendering properties nonconforming. Based on this analysis, staff developed final recommended language, which includes that the secondary residential street ends in a cul-de-sac. Staff’s recommended revised language is included in the memo as the draft Planning Commission recommendation for this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the draft recommendation memos, edit as the Commission sees fit, and adopt both memos.
NEXT STEPS:
Staff will transmit the recommendation memos to the Mayor and Council as part of the brief book for their March 23 meeting, at which time the Commission’s recommendations will be presented.