Reducing proposed density around Metro stations??? A novel idea being pursued by MoCo

Dan Reed at the Greater Greater Washington blog reports, "Montgomery nervous about density around Purple Line stops."  And we're talking about east Silver Spring INSIDE the Beltway, not in outer suburban areas (like FC) of MoCo.  Here's how the article begins:

This week, the Montgomery County Council reduced planned development in Chevy Chase Lake and recommended the same for Long Branch, both home to future Purple Line stations. Residents say new development will lead to traffic and, in Long Branch, gentrification. But making it harder to build around transit may make those issues worse.

Rendering of the future Chevy Chase Lake from the Chevy Chase Land Company

Now that Maryland has a new transportation funding source, work on the $2.2 billion Purple Line between Bethesda and New Carrollton could open as early as 2020 if the state can get matching funds from the federal government. Naturally, people will want to locate near the line, so Montgomery County's working on plans for neighborhoods along the corridor to accommodate new residents, businesses, and public amenities.

This week, they passed a plan for Chevy Chase Lake, while the council's Planning, Housing, and Economic Development committee gave recommendations on a draft of the Long Branch Sector Plan, which the council will vote on this fall. Both plans call for turning the neighborhoods' 1950's-era commercial cores into compact, urban neighborhoods, with taller, mixed-use buildings, new public spaces and streets that accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders, not just drivers.
Neighbors in Chevy Chase Lake fought their plan, saying it would exacerbate traffic. In Long Branch, residents worry that redevelopment will push out the area's large immigrant community and destroy local landmarks, like the historic Flower Theatre. So council members have scaled back both plans in the name of reducing traffic and preserving affordable housing. . . .

Wow!  A County Board that actually listens to its residents!  That doesn't happen in FC because the BOS believes it knows best and the rest of us need to keep quiet and cope.