The Montgomery County Planning Board approved a preliminary plan and associated forest conservation plan for a new church project at its March 26, 2026 meeting, advancing a proposal for Iglesia De Cristo Mi El Maryland in the Olney area.

The project is planned for 17521 Old Baltimore Road, on a 7.21-acre property located on the south side of Old Baltimore Road, roughly 1,100 feet east of Winter Morning Way. The site sits within the Rural Neighborhood Cluster (RNC) zone and is part of the Olney Planning Area identified in the county’s 2005 Olney Master Plan. According to planning documents, the surrounding area consists of a mix of residential neighborhoods and open space. Residential development lies to the north across Old Baltimore Road, with additional housing nearby in the Olney Estates cluster. Open space parcels border the property to the south.

As part of the approval, the applicant must comply with a detailed Forest Conservation Plan aimed at preserving and expanding tree coverage on-site. The plan requires the establishment of a Category I Conservation Easement covering approximately 1.28 acres of forest planting, which must be formally recorded in county land records. Additional requirements include the installation of permanent conservation signage, a five-year maintenance and management agreement for planted areas, and the submission of a cost estimate and financial surety to guarantee the installation and upkeep of required landscaping and tree plantings.

The applicant must also meet afforestation and mitigation requirements, including securing credits for 0.13 acres of off-site forest mitigation if necessary. Tree protection measures, erosion control consistency, and scheduled inspections by county staff are also mandated throughout the development process. Plantings must be completed within designated timeframes following site stabilization and permit approvals, including specific requirements for mitigation trees to meet minimum size standards.

With the preliminary and forest conservation plans now approved, the project can move forward to the next stages of review and permitting, subject to compliance with all outlined environmental and regulatory conditions.

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