Mayor & Council Work Session: June 8, 2026

The June 8, 2026 joint work session of the Gaithersburg Mayor and Council with the Planning Commission focused on the Build Gaithersburg 2040 city master plan update. The meeting involved detailed discussions on land use, building heights, and redevelopment opportunities across various sectors including the Kentlands commercial district, Oldtown, the Frederick Avenue corridor, and the Watkins Mill Town Center. Staff presented recommendations for mixed-use development, increased building heights in certain areas, and enhanced pedestrian and transportation connectivity. Public feedback and council input emphasized the importance of pedestrian safety, flexible building heights, maintaining affordable housing, and supporting commercial viability. Several speakers from the development community urged prioritizing residential development, particularly for-sale housing, in the Watkins Mill Town Center to align with market realities. The meeting also addressed potential future uses for city-owned properties, including venues and institutional uses, and the need for creative approaches to redevelopment given the city's limited horizontal growth potential. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were made, but the master plan update will guide future development and infrastructure investments in Gaithersburg.