Comprehensive Plan

Washington Grove is unique in its roots, its initial land use plan, the design of its dwellings, its determination to retain more land in a natural state as forests and parks than developed property, and the character of its history. Recognizing that most of the Town’s privately-owned parcels are already developed, the goals and objectives of this plan are to:

• Preserve the integrity of the Town by providing guidance for protection of the land use pattern as reflected by the historic character of the community (as defined in the National Register Designation) and as influenced by the evolving culture of the community.
• Preserve historic resources through thoughtful adaptation of housing stock and conservation of the natural landscape.
• Protect and improve the economic and intrinsic value of both the privately-owned property and the property and resources held in common.
• Expand awareness of Washington Grove in adjacent jurisdictions and provide opportunities for discourse and exchange.
• Support planning requirements throughout the State.

The current Comprehensive Plan became effective on February 25, 2009. In 2017, the Town’s Planning Commission began work on a new Comprehensive Plan 2022, which was finalized in Summer 2022.

Comprehensive Plan 2022

Here it is—the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Washington Grove! The plan is the result of over three years of work by the Planning Commission and the many volunteers submitting material from the Historic Preservation Commission and the many Town Committees which were involved in the process.

The Comprehensive Plan has had several public hearings and has also benefited from the many residents who submitted written public comments. During the final stage, the Town Council has also added their input and finally adopted the current 2022 Plan.

Our thanks go out to each and every one of you who participated in producing this important planning document which provides guidance we can use now and build on as we move forward.

• Comprehensive Plan 2022 as adopted by Resolution 2022-07 on August 29, 2022 (PDF)

Most Recent Documents

• Resolution 2022-07: Adoption of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan by the Town Council (PDF)
• August 8, 2022 Draft (After review and amendment by the Mayor and Town Council; this is the version that will be reviewed at an August 29, 2022 Public Hearing) (PDF)
• March 30, 2022 Draft (After receiving and addressing public comments; this is the version that was sent to the Town Council) (PDF)
• March 30, 2022 Letter from the Planning Commission to the Town Council Delivering the Draft (PDF)
• Planning Commission Resolution 2022-02: Approval of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan by the Planning Commission (PDF)

Documents Related to Submission of Public Comments/Written Testimony

• Notice of February 16, 2022 public hearing
• Guidance to assist reviewers (PDF)
• July 27, 2021 Letter from Marc and Peggy Hansen (PDF)
• August 16, 2021 Letter from MD Department of Planning reviewing the 2022 Plan (PDF)
• August 16, 2021 Letter from the Washington Grove Historic Preservation Commission (PDF) 
• February 16, 2022 Email from Jane Seegal (PDF) 
• Minutes of the February 16, 2022 Planning Commission Public Hearing on the 2022 Comprehensive Plan (PDF)
• March 13, 2022 Email from the Racial and Social Equity Committee (PDF)
• March 13, 2022 Email from the Woods Committee (PDF) March 16, 2022 Email from Dave Cosson re: the 2022 Comprehensive Plan
• March 16, 2022 Email from Dave Cosson (PDF)
• March 16, 2022 Email from Kathy Lehman (PDF)
• March 21, 2022 Email from Barbara Raimondo (PDF)
• March 30, 2022 Response from the Planning Commission to Commenters (PDF)
• April 10, 2022 Email from Marc and Peggy Hansen and Mary and Charlie Challstrom (PDF)