Retool Gaithersburg

The challenge

Gaithersburg's ordinance had become dense, difficult to navigate, and out of date relative to current housing types, commercial models, and community aspirations. Home to Kentlands and Lakelands, two of the most innovative new urbanist communities in America, the city needed a code that could support housing diversity, infill redevelopment, and equitable outcomes citywide.

What we did

The work began with a detailed code audit and process mapping: inconsistencies, overlapping review procedures, antiquated definitions, and structural barriers to infill and adaptive reuse. Public engagement followed through focus groups, virtual kickoff meetings, surveys, and community touchpoints, supported by a dedicated project website, retoolgaithersburg.com, over the 18-month process.

The rewrite was organized around clarity of structure, objective standards, context sensitivity, and equity. The new Chapter 24 replaces opaque text with plain-language purpose statements, consolidated use tables, and graphics that explain dimensional rules and application processes at a glance.

What changed

• A new MCD (Mixed-Commercial Development) district to facilitate employment-focused redevelopment in strategic locations
• Modernized use definitions and improved eligibility for adaptive reuse
• Streamlined review with fewer discretionary steps and more predictability for smaller, compliant projects
• Clear pathways for housing choice, from smaller townhomes to accessory dwelling units
• Expanded notification and transparent follow-through in the public process
• The zoning map was not changed; the new structure supports future rezoning and master plan updates in a modular way

Implementation

ZoneCo delivered staff training, user guides, checklists, and a digital version of the ordinance. Metrics embedded in the implementation plan track permit timelines, variance requests, and housing uptake. The code was approved July 15, 2024 and took effect August 5, 2024.

Retool Gaithersburg reframes zoning as a practical tool for investment, equity, and sustainability rather than an obstacle. It won the Maryland Governor's Award in 2024 and the Maryland Sustainable Growth Award for Best Policy in 2025.