March 16, 2022 
Montgomery County Planning Board 
2425 Reedie Dr 
Wheaton, MD 20902 

Item 6 – Strathmore Square: Preliminary Plan Amendment No. 12019018B & Site Plan No. 820220070 (Support) 

Testimony for March 17, 2022 

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager 

Thank you, Chair Anderson and Planning Commissioners, for the opportunity to provide testimony on the Strathmore Square project. My name is Jane Lyons and I’m speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization advocating for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all. 

We support the application by Fivesquares Development and are excited by the vision of Strathmore Square. This project will bring much needed activation to the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station, including 220 units of housing (33 MPDUs), jobs, a 1.2 acre park, shared street, bike amenities, public space, and other improvements to the area. This is an opportunity to turn a parking lot into a vibrant community. 

It is our hope this project will serve as an example of what can be achieved with transit-oriented development in the county. Projects like Strathmore Square are needed to provide the public benefits that contribute to making the county a more attractive, inclusive, and sustainable place to live. By concentrating more housing, retail, and jobs at a Metro station, Montgomery County will be making it easier for more residents to be less reliant on a private vehicle and bring additional business to destinations like the Music Center at Strathmore and Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. 

Thus, we urge you to support the plan amendment and site plan for Strathmore Square. Thank you for your consideration.