When farmers bartered for supplies at Perry Store in Offutt’s Crossroad in 1880, Potomac was an agricultural community where transportation relied on the C&O Canal and horse-drawn wagons on dirt roads. Today, we see something far different.
Yet much remains constant. Great Falls, the Potomac River, and the Canal still draw us. Forested stream valleys, rural roads, and Potomac Village still define our community. The look and feel of Potomac today is no accident. Much of what we hold dear is due to the vigilance of volunteers working to preserve what is best here – a community that values our history, the environment, and our role as “Green Wedge” in the overall vision of county planners.
We invite you to become one of the team to insure the continued beauty of this area. If you are interested in preserving the beauty of Potomac, please become a member.
The Green Wedge
The Potomac Subregion is one of two low-density residential “Green Wedges” named in the 1964 On Wedges and Corridors plan that established land use guidelines for Montgomery County. These wedges complement the I-270 corridor and the urban downcounty close to Washington, DC. The wedges are conservation areas buffering the Agricultural Reserve and water supply from development pressures.
The Master Plan
The 2002 Potomac Subregion Master Plan Revision reaffirms our “Green Wedge” function. The Master Plan calls for maintaining Potomac’s semi-rural character through low-density zoning, limited sewer capacity, the two-lane road network, and a confined commercial core. These limit impervious surfaces, enhance forest and tree cover, and protect streams, wetlands and the Potomac River, the major source of public drinking water.
WMCCA
The West Montgomery County Citizens Association was founded in 1947 as a forum for local issues. Monthly public meetings October through May feature speakers, citizen concerns, development proposals, and environmental issues relevant to our community. WMCCA’s Board of Directors meets monthly year-round, and three committees shape its agenda – Environment, Planning and Zoning, and Roads, Bikeways and Sidewalks. WMCCA’s effectiveness comes through learning how government functions, collaborating with other groups, and establishing relationships with planning and permitting agencies and legislative officials
WMCCA is Potomac’s voice in the halls of government. Board members serve on government advisory committees and testify at public hearings before the Planning Board, County Council, and the Board of Appeals. When necessary, WMCCA retains Counsel in legal issues beyond our expertise. We have a 60-year record of organizational integrity and civic credibility.
WMCCA’s Goals
WMCCA upholds the low-density zoning and limited sewer capacity principles in the Potomac Subregion Master Plan so necessary to our role in buffering both the Agricultural Reserve and the Potomac River.
WMCCA sees our two-lane road system and our Rustic Roads as integral to our semi-rural designation in the Potomac Master Plan. Our road system limits stormwater run-off and enhances forest and tree canopy cover essential to local streams and the public water supply.
WMCCA seeks to retain our ‘village feel’ by holding the commercial footprint, restricting intrusive signage and carefully monitoring Special Exception uses.
WMCCA believes any new bridge crossing the Potomac River through the Potomac Subregion or the Agricultural Reserve subverts our rural character and is inconsistent with the objectives of both Master Plans.
WMCCA seeks additional curtailment of stormwater runoff through source reduction, implementation of environmental site design and stronger safeguards against forest removal and tree cutting.
The Future
We are uniquely situated. With the C&O Canal National Historic Park on our doorstep and the Agricultural Reserve to our north, what we have always provided becomes ever more valuable to retaining environmental quality as we face the threats brought on by climate change.
Our basis is sound but we need to embrace new terms. Sustainability, energy efficiency, connectivity and environmentally effective growth can only add to our community character and the quality of life we so value.
Please join WMCCA today!
The West Montgomery County Citizens Association draws its membership from the one-acre and two-acre zoned areas (RE-2 and RE-1) between the Muddy Branch on the west and the Bucks Branch and Cabin John Creek on the east, along with the quarter-acre zoned areas (R-200) encompassed by those streams.
Starting from the junction of the Capital Beltway (I-495) with the Potomac River, the WMCCA membership area boundary follows the Potomac River west, north and northwest to the mouth of the Muddy Branch, then northeast along the Muddy Branch to its intersection with the PEPCO transmission line, then southeast along the line to Piney Meetinghouse Road, then North to Boswell Lane, then east to Glen Mill Road, then north to Viers Drive, then east on Viers Drive continuing on Scott Drive to the Watts Branch.
Then Southwest along the Watts Branch to its intersection with the PEPCO transmission line, then east along the line to Falls Road, then south to Bells Mill Road, then to Bells Mill Road intersection with Bucks Branch, then south along the Bucks Branch to its junction with Cabin John Creek, then south along Cabin John Creek to the point where the Capital Beltway crosses the creek, and then southwest along the Capital Beltway to the Potomac River.
About the WMCCA Website
If you have any questions or design ideas for the site, please send an e-mail to webmaster@wmcca.org. Requests to have information published on the site should be directed to the WMCCA President.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association 