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March 03, 2008

ICC Parkland Transfer, Historic Designations on March 6 Montgomery Planning Board Agenda

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

Posted at 04:42 PM in Planning |