The Town of Poolesville is moving to create a new Cultural Arts District (CAD) zoning category and associated design, parking, and sign guidelines for its historic downtown, as outlined in Ordinance No. 231 and companion design documents discussed by the Planning Commission on June 10, 2026. The CAD will use form-based zoning, mandate enhanced streetscapes (10-foot public realm with curb, gutter, wider sidewalks, vegetation, benches, trash receptacles, and town-standard lighting), and encourage mixed-use buildings with ground-floor commercial and upper-floor residential, plus arts-related uses.This is a policy and framework change rather than a single project, but it will trigger multiple future capital and private development projects within the district, including façade improvements, streetscape construction, parking reconfiguration, and new or remodeled buildings that must go through architectural review. Vendors in planning, urban design, civil/streetscape engineering, lighting, parking planning, and development advisory can help the Town and property owners translate the new standards into specific projects, grant applications, and buildable site plans; signage and wayfinding firms also have a near-term role in helping businesses comply with new sign guidelines once adopted.

Includes new CAD use table column, development requirements, flexible parking standards, Cultural Arts District Design Guidelines, and Cultural Arts District Sign Design Guidelines; Planning Commission will conduct architectural reviews for CAD projects.