MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

February 9, 2017
Statement from the Montgomery County Planning Department Director Gwen Wright Regarding
the Process for Addressing a Possible Historic African-American Cemetery in Westbard
The Montgomery County Planning Department shares community concerns about the possible presence
of a historic African-American cemetery in Westbard. We have approached this issue with utmost
sensitivity to the possible presence of burial sites and will continue to do so.
During work on the Westbard Sector Plan, the history of the River Road African-American community
was researched extensively and highlighted in the planning document. Through studying historic
documents, the Planning Department identified the possible presence of a burial site and spoke with the
minister of the Macedonia Baptist Church about it. While research indicates that there were graves at site
at some point in the past, further investigation is needed to determine whether any graves are still present.
We also briefed the Planning Board about this issue at a public worksession and included language in the
Westbard Sector Plan about it. All of this work was done at the initiative of the Planning Department
because we understand the importance of the African-American history of this community.
After the approval of the plan, we have worked diligently to assure that this issue is incorporated into the
review of a regulatory application for the site owned by Equity One. For the past several months, the
Planning Department has worked to get needed archaeological investigation done to ascertain whether
there is evidence of burial sites. I have personally affirmed at each of the community meetings that I have
attended on the Equity One regulatory case that this issue will not be overlooked or ignored during the
review process. Here are the steps we have taken:

We asked Equity One to undertake appropriate archaeological investigation at this very earliest
step in the regulatory process. They agreed to do this, contacted an experienced cultural resource
management firm to do the work, and presented a scope they had received for this work on
December 6th.
We have undertaken an extensive and transparent dialogue with the entire Westbard community
on all aspects of the Equity One regulatory application. Through this process of community
meetings, the Macedonia Baptist Church has been engaged in discussing how to undertake the
needed archaeological investigations.
The archaeological work has not yet been done but is pending. Equity One had wanted to proceed
with the work under the bid they received on December 6th. However, the Planning Department
has been trying to address any and all concerns of the Macedonia Baptist Church in the process
and fully involve them in the archaeological investigation.
The church representatives did not want Equity One to proceed with the work outlined in the
December 6th bid and asked them to get a bid from a different cultural resource management firm.
Although the first firm was fully qualified and experienced, the Planning Department asked
Equity One to get a bid from the firm suggested by the church. That bid was received on January
23rd.
 The Macedonia Baptist Church asked two well-respected academics Dr. Rachel Watkins and Dr.
Michael Blakey to become involved in the process. The Planning Department agreed to enter
into a contract with Drs. Watkins and Blakey to act as a Peer Review Committee for the
archaeological investigation being fully engaged with the firm doing the investigation to assure
that the work is thorough and accurate.
Work outlined in the January 23rd proposal has been delayed in an effort to get Drs. Watkins and
Blakey under contract. Although the Planning Department has attempted to get the necessary
information from Drs. Watkins and Blakey to enter into this agreement for their peer review
services including sending them a proposal last Friday we have not received a response from
them.
All of the work described above has been in the context of a regulatory application filed by Equity One.
This application is for a sketch plan for their Westbard property a large tract with the possible cemetery
being only a small fraction of the area. A sketch plan is an early stage, highly conceptual regulatory
application required for developments of a certain scale. A sketch plan does not give a property owner
any development entitlements. Following sketch plan approval, and before commencing with any
development on its site, Equity One must also obtain preliminary plan and plat approval also referred as
subdivision approval and site plan approval. This process will take a year or more.
Review of the sketch plan regulatory application has been delayed three times in order to resolve issues
on the archaeological investigation of the possible cemetery site and the review is now well beyond the
90-day review period established by County law. The Planning Board is currently scheduled to consider
Equity Ones sketch plan in a public hearing on February 23, 2017.
The area that includes the possible cemetery is included in the sketch plan application; however, the
proposals for changes/construction in the area of the possible cemetery are not being evaluated in detail in
the sketch plan. The staff report for this regulatory case will include conditions that require Equity One to
submit the archaeological study prior to approval of the preliminary plan and phase the timing and
approval of any development on this portion of property once the study is complete to address pertinent
recommendations. The conditions further state that a sketch plan amendment, consistent with the results
of the study and the preliminary plan will be required to analyze the details of any new improvements,
dedications or protections on this part of the property.
Review and action on Equity Ones sketch plan will in no way limit the Planning Boards ability to
address concerns related to the presence of a cemetery during the next stages of review.
During this entire process, the Planning Department has reaffirmed that not only will all Maryland laws
that govern burial sites and archaeological discovery of human remains be followed meticulously, but that
it is also our goal to commemorate the history of the cemetery and the River Road African-American
community throughout any park created in the Willet Branch area. We will continue to work diligently
and transparently to find a solution that is legal, that is viable, and that honors the history of the River
Road African-American community.