For Lack of Schools: Building Moratorium Set to Take Effect

The Montgomery County Council made a few last minute changes to a residential building moratorium that will take effect next week, halting construction in areas around the county's schools.

1 minute read

June 27, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Maryland School

Graves Creative Design / Shutterstock

"The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday gave unanimous approval to an amendment to the county’s moratorium policy that allows certain developments to move forward despite a residential building freeze," reports Caitlynn Peetz.

The residential building moratorium is set to take effect next week, affecting 12 percent of the county, in areas surrounding schools. Montgomery County's actions to freeze residential development in response to overcrowding in schools first made news in when the moratorium was proposed in March 2018. The county finally enacted the moratorium in April 2019, as reported by both Ally Schweitzer and Alex Baca.

The council decided to relax the moratorium to allow projects "projected to yield fewer than 10 new students," projects that replace a condemned structure in or adjacent to a state-designated Opportunity Zone, or projects that include affordable housing in more than half of the planned residences.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019 in Bethesda Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

June 4 - FreightWaves

Pedestrian holding visual impairment cane pressing crosswalk button.

Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals

Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.

June 4 - DRA Legal

People on bike wearing helmets stopped at intersection waiting for passing cars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Swaps Car Lanes for Bikeways in Unanimous Vote

The project will transform one of the handful of streets responsible for 80% of the city’s major crashes.

June 4 - Philly Voice

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.