Schlichting Named Gaithersburg Planning & Code Administration Director
Posted 6/18/2012

Following a comprehensive national search, Acting City Manager Tony Tomasello has appointed John Schlichting as Director of Gaithersburg’s Planning and Code Administration.  He is scheduled to assume the position on July 9, 2012, earning an annual salary of $140,000.  He will be formally introduced at the Mayor and City Council Meeting on July 16, 2012.

Gaithersburg’s Planning and Code Administration encompasses six divisions, including Community Planning, Long Range Planning, Neighborhood Services, Permits and Inspections, Environmental Services, and Animal Control.  The department’s budget for FY2013 is $4.3 million.

“There is a lot going on in Gaithersburg from a development perspective right now, and our Planning & Code Administration Director must be adept at managing it all,” said Acting City Manager Tomasello. “John impressed the four staff and community-based interview panels with his extensive knowledge and involvement in the Gaithersburg community, his broad experiences, and his strong desire to further the goals of the City of Gaithersburg.”

Schlichting has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, most recently serving as Executive Development Officer and Partner with the JBG companies.  He was responsible for the development of several large mixed-use properties, including Reston Heights, a four million square foot mixed-used project adjacent to the Reston Town Center, and several mixed-use projects in downtown Bethesda.  

"I am absolutely delighted that I have been chosen for this position.  Throughout my career, I have been passionate about careful, smart and sustainable stewardship of our built environment.  I've also been passionate about the City of Gaithersburg and serving my community, and I look forward to bringing together these passions to benefit all of our neighborhoods and residents."

Schlichting holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an MBA with concentrations in urban planning and real estate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

A resident of Kentlands in Gaithersburg since 1992, John Schlichting served on the Gaithersburg Planning Commission from 1995 to 2001, and was elected to the Gaithersburg City Council in 2001, where he served until 2007.  During that time he also served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.  He is a member of the Washington Architectural Foundation, the Chairman of the Kentlands Community Foundation, and serves on the Board of Directors of the George Washington Chapter of Lambda Alpha, an International Honorary Land Economics Society. 

The public is invited to stop by City Hall to meet John Schlichting during his first few weeks of employment.  For more information contact the City Manager’s Office at 301-258-6310 or the Planning & Code Administration at 301-258-6330.