Earlier this year, Gaithersburg commenced an initiative called “Build Gaithersburg 2040” to update the city’s master plan. The update focuses on two key master plan elements – land use and transportation.
By updating these elements (last updated in 2011 and 2010, respectively), the city aims to guide development and infrastructure decisions through the year 2040 to ensure that growth over the next 15 years aligns with the community’s vision, current trends, and regulatory requirements.
The Core of Gaithersburg’s Physical Development Policy
Build Gaithersburg 2040 is centered on two master plan components that directly impact development and land use strategy in the city:
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Land Use Element: This element establishes the mix of land uses allowed throughout Gaithersburg and maps out the appropriate zoning classifications for those uses.
The update will revisit the city’s land use designations to accommodate future growth and redevelopment, ensuring that zoning and land use policies reflect modern needs and opportunities.
The updated Land Use Element will likely highlight where Gaithersburg envisions growth (for example, targeting certain corridors or districts for redevelopment, or preserving other areas for specific uses).
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Transportation Element: This element outlines strategies for a safe, multi-modal transportation network that serves drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians. The updated Transportation Element will plan for improvements and policies to enhance mobility and connectivity across the city.
Key objectives include easing congestion, expanding transit options, improving pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and promoting an equitable transportation system that supports planned land uses.
The Transportation Element update will identify transportation improvements and priorities (such as new road connections, transit enhancements, pedestrian/bike infrastructure, and traffic mitigation strategies).
What is Build Gaithersburg 2040’s Timeline?
Build Gaithersburg 2040 is proceeding on an anticipated two-year timeline (beginning spring 2025). The process is divided into the following general phases:
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Public Engagement and Research (Ongoing-2025): The city is actively gathering input from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. This initial phase (kicked off mid-2025) includes outreach events, surveys, and analysis of existing conditions.
As of now, Gaithersburg officials and planners are still in this information-gathering stage – hosting community webinars, circulating online surveys, and staffing information tables at local events. The goal of this phase is to identify key issues, community priorities, and opportunities that the updated plan should address.
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Draft Plan Development (Late 2025 into 2026): In the next phase, city planning staff will synthesize public feedback and technical research to develop draft updates to the Land Use and Transportation elements.
This effort will involve formulating updated land use maps, policy recommendations, and transportation project priorities looking toward the year 2040.
Internal work sessions and possibly additional public workshops will shape the draft Master Plan elements. By late 2025 and through 2026, the community can expect preliminary recommendations or concept plans to be refined into a formal draft master plan document.
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Formal Review & Adoption (2026-2027): Once a draft master plan update is prepared, it will proceed through the official adoption process required by state and local law.
This process includes a public comment period (the city must release the draft for at least 60 days of public review), followed by a joint public hearing held by the Gaithersburg mayor and city council together with the planning commission. After hearing public testimony and making any revisions, the planning commission will formally review the draft and vote on a recommendation to adopt the plan.
Finally, the mayor and city council will hold a meeting to adopt the updated master plan elements by ordinance or resolution. This culminating phase is anticipated in 2026 or early 2027, depending on how long drafting and revisions take.
Right now, the project remains in the public engagement and research phase. No draft plan has been released yet.
Once adopted, Gaithersburg’s master plan will serve as an advisory policy document that guides future zoning and development decisions. Stakeholders – including property owners and developers – still have opportunities to provide input before any formal policies are proposed.
For those in the development community, these engagement opportunities are an ideal time to voice support or concerns about potential policy changes that could impact future projects. If you own property or are pursuing projects in the city, these land use designations could influence future rezoning applications or site plan approvals.
