SILVER SPRING, MD – Among the items scheduled to be
heard by the Montgomery County Planning Board on March 6 are a proposed
transfer of parkland in the path of the Intercounty Connector (ICC) and
historic designations for seven properties in Germantown, Burtonsville, Chevy
Chase and other areas.
The
proposed parkland transfer, which would be the fifth request to the board since
the State Highway Administration (SHA) began acquiring land in the path of the highway,
will follow an ICC public hearing beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. The ICC
is a proposed 18-mile highway connecting I-370 near Shady Grove to U.S. 1
between Beltsville and Laurel.
The
board will consider transferring approximately 44 acres of parkland from
Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park, Upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and
Layhill Local Park to SHA. In exchange, state highway officials have committed
to giving the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC),
the agency that owns the parkland and of which the board is a part, 8.5 acres
for every acre transferred.
That
mitigation agreement, included in the ICC Record of Decision, SHA’s official
guide for building the highway, calls for all replacement land to have
important natural resources, such as sensitive watersheds and mature forests. If
the board OKs the transfer, a proposed resolution authorizing the land swap
will go to the full M-NCPPC commission for a final vote later this month.
Learn
more about the ICC through Montgomery County.
Also on
Thursday, the board will hold a public hearing at approximately 4:30 p.m. about
seven sites proposed for historic designation, two brought forward by county
planners as part of the development of a new Germantown Master Plan and five proposed
by property owners or citizen groups.
The county
Historic Preservation Commission has recommended historic status for five of
the seven properties. The board’s decisions will go to the County Council for
final consideration and potential approval to become part of the county’s historic
preservation list. See a list of the proposed properties.
The
board also will hear a plan for a 225-room hotel, 250 apartments or
condominiums, office and retail space in downtown Bethesda at approximately 9:45
a.m. The Planning Board rejected an earlier iteration of the Woodmont East
project last November, partly because of public concern about access to the
popular Georgetown Branch bike trail and residents’ concerns about open space
in the busy downtown area. The plan has since been revised to include open
space on Woodmont Avenue.
WHO:
The
Montgomery County Planning Board
WHAT:
Public
hearing agenda items
WHEN:
Thursday,
March 6
WHERE:
Park
and Planning Headquarters
8787
Georgia Ave., Silver Spring