Sector Plan Passes, Concerns Linger
The Wheaton Sector Plan sets up a vision for a more developed downtown area.
Do you worry that redevelopment will dilute or even erase Wheaton’s distinctive character?
Now that the Montgomery County Council has approved the Wheaton Sector Plan--a master guide for county planners that envisions a denser, more walkable Wheaton--people are wondering what the next decade will bring to a community that prizes its ethnic diversity and small business flavor.
The Washington Post noted that as the county plans for major residential and commercial build-up around the Wheaton Metro station, there is also the concern that the new will push out the old.
“I do agree that we need to enhance and definitely redevelop the area,” Councilmember Nancy Navarro told the Washington Post. “But we need to make sure we support the viability of the small businesses. . . . For me, this notion of preserving the character of Wheaton is important.”
Wheaton’s small businesses--particularly its many restaurants--reflect its diverse population: about 42 percent Hispanic (the highest concentration in Montgomery County), 25 percent white non-Hispanic, 18 percent black and 12 percent Asian, according to the 2010 Census.
Councilmember Nancy Floreen gave a nod to the concerns about small business survival in a blog post after the sector plan passed: “We hope incentives in our new family of commercial/residential (CR) zones will preserve small businesses while allowing for large-scale development and adding the creation of a tree canopy as a priority.”
The Coalition for the Fair Development of Wheaton wants to make sure that the county’s decision-makers don’t lose sight of these priorities now that the sector plan has passed. As development changes the face of Wheaton, the Coalition says it wants to focus on jobs for Wheaton residents, support for small businesses, affordable housing, a community center and a multicultural plaza.
AntonFisher
5:34 pm on Friday, December 2, 2011
I am not sure what flavor people keep talking about. Wheaton is in dire need of revitalization and redevelopment. All of these shopping centers are not even inviting to see what they offer. Total face lift is needed.
Bonnie
3:12 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011
Totally agree DCGUY! I'd love to see some life pumped into Wheaton. Now it is...how do I put this...unappealing.
Tom Termini
9:24 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2011
Some people gripe that development of Wheaton will be detrimental to its character. On the contrary, re-zoning, soft tax credits, and other incentives can quickly impact private investment. When people put money back into their neighborhoods, ownership (to some degree, selfishness) spurs action. And greater pedestrian activity is always a good thing (see http://www.walkinginfo.org/problems/problems-crime.cfm and http://americancity.org/columns/entry/2272/ ). Government should set the rules, but private creativity -- and investment -- should be the source of the resources to make Wheaton a vital and interesting destination.
Bonnie
3:15 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011
I think it's good Wheaton is being developed into a more walkable town. But as someone who has been nearly hit (as a pedestrian) by two different drivers two weeks in a row, in the same intersection (and I'm by no means a dangerous person, and I'm young and can move quickly)...I have SERIOUS concerns about pedestrian safety in Wheaton. I have voiced this to MCDOT, and if anyone else has had any issues, I highly recommend you let them know. I hope MCDOT is involved in ALL of these planning activities, because our safety is at stake!!
Kirsten
8:48 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
There are some gems in Wheaton but also a lot of junk. Many locals have been hopeful/waiting for a long time for the redevelopment
Peggy Kane
12:26 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
What is going to happen to the residents of Wheaton who are on the lower end of the economic scale? Do we want them to be driven out by higher rents? What is going to happen to the agencies in the Mid-County Services Center who offer help to a wide range of citizens as the Center is slated to be torn down? As a board member of Mid-County United Ministries, an independent emergency assistance agency, I am very concerned that there seems to be no plan that we are aware of to relocate agencies like ours who serve the elderly, the disabled, and the poor. Surely providing assistance to those in need is as important as providing a face lift and revitalization.