The County Council approved the Germantown Employment Corridor Sector Plan at its Tuesday meeting.

The Council voted 8-0 on a resolution to adopt the plan, which focuses on Germantown's underdeveloped business corridor located within 2,460 acres stretching from Crystal Rock Drive and the CSX railroad tracks to Route 355. It must be formally adopted by the bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The plan recommends adding more than 24 million square feet of commercial space with about 68,800 jobs and 16,400 residences, which includes development proscribed in the 1989 Germantown Master Plan. It is centered around the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway, which would connect the Shady Grove Metro station to Clarksburg via light rail or rapid bus, and has an emphasis on mixed-use and sustainable development and adding high quality jobs.

"I hope this plan will lay out a framework for that to happen," said Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown. "I look forward to seeing Germantown continue to grow and thrive."

The Council will now turn its attention to more controversial plans in Gaithersburg West and White Flint, and the Planning Board is working on plans in Wheaton, Takoma/Langley Crossroads and Kensington.

To read the resolution, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/index.asp.