Gaithersburg West Master Plan

Community Meeting
March 18, 2009

M-NCPPC Gaithersburg West Master Plan

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 Gaithersburg West Master Plan
Community Meeting
March 18, 2009

Question and Answer Segment

• Please write your questions on the
index cards on the chairs
• Note the subject/topic
• Hand the card to a staff member

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 Gaithersburg West Master Plan
Schedule
October-December Community-wide Meetings

December-January Draft Master Plan Prepared

February 12 Draft Plan Presented to Planning Board

March 26 Planning Board Public Hearing

Public Hearing Record Tentatively Open
for two weeks

April – June Planning Board Worksessions

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Proposed Schedule

July Planning Board Draft Master Plan to

Executive/County Council

September Executive Transmits to County Council

November County Council Public Hearing

Nov. - Dec. County Council Begins Worksessions

M-NCPPC Gaithersburg West Master Plan

 Gaithersburg West Master Plan
Montgomery County’s Community Meeting
General Plan March 18, 2009
I-270 Corridor Vision

• Concentrated centers
of mixed use
• Transportation
options
• Corridor Cities
Transitway
• Public/Private
Investment

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The I-270 Corridor

County’s Economic Engine

Germantown
High Quality of Life
Gaithersburg West
Strong Employment Resources Shady Grove

Exceptional Talent Base

Twinbrook
White Flint

Home to almost half of County’s

workforce

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 Gaithersburg West Master Plan

I-270 Corridor Plans

Plans Completed
Shady Grove Sector Plan Germantown
Twinbrook Sector Plan
Gaithersburg West

Plans Underway Shady Grove

Germantown
White Flint Twinbrook
Gaithersburg West White Flint

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Road Network

Transit

Municipalities

Enclaves

Life Sciences Center

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Life Sciences Center
County’s Premier Location for Planning Board Status Report
and Largest Concentration of
Biotech

LSC Districts:
• LSC Central
• LSC West (PSTA)
• LSC Belward
• LSC North
• LSC South

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 The LSC in the 21st Century
Build on Today’s LSC to Create a Vibrant Future

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What We Heard from Community:

General Agreement about PSTA

relocation and housing

Put more development on Central,

less on Belward

Buffers around Belward and

protect historic farm setting

Reduce Densities, Reduce Heights

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Key Master Plan Recommendations

Allow growth of the Life Sciences

Center and Medical Center

Bring the CCT into the LSC

Create a new residential community

Allow mix of uses

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Key Master Plan Recommendations

Concentrate height and density at CCT

Create grid pattern of streets

Create on open space network

Stage Development

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Corridor Cities Transitway: Current MTA Study
Planning Board Status Report
• CCT Begins at:
Shady Grove Metro
Station

• CCT Ends at:

Comsat in Clarksburg

• 14-mile Transit Line with

14 stations

• Mode: LRT or BRT

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CCT in the I-270 Corridor

• Provide Transit Option

for Corridor Cities

• Extend transit service

from Metro terminus

• Improve Mobility

• Alleviate I-270
Congestion
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Linking Land Uses/Connecting Communities

CCT Stations Phase 1

10. 1. Shady Grove

2. King Farm East
3. King Farm West
9.
4. Crown Farm
5. LSC Core
8. 1. 6. LSC West/PSTA
1.
7. LSC/Belward
8. Quince Orchard/
2.
4. 3. Kentlands
9. NIST
7. 5. 10. Metropolitan
6.
Grove

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CCT in the LSC: Transit/Land Use Linked

CCT: Centerpiece

Increased Density Linked

to CCT through Staging

Current CCT Route

Alternate CCT Route &

Stations:
• LSC Central
• LSC West (PSTA)
• LSC Belward
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LSC CCT Stations:
Central
West
Belward

• Highest Height & Density

• Civic Open Spaces

• Activating Mix of Uses

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LSC Loop
3.5- mile path connecting:
Districts
Destinations
Belward Farm
Schools
Traville
USG
Open Spaces
Passive and Active

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Master Plan

Examples of
Public Open Spaces & Plazas

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Open Space Network – Connectors
Trails Connecting Natural and
Built Environment with Active
Civic Spaces

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LSC Central: Medical and

Biotech Center
• CCT Station
• Medical Center Expansion
• Biotech Growth
• JHU – MC Campus

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LSC Central

Local Street Grid

Up to 1.5 FAR at Medical

Center & JHU-MCC

Up to 1.0 FAR elsewhere

More uses: retail

& limited housing

Height: 143 feet

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LSC West: A New
Residential Community

• CCT Station

• Relocate PSTA

• New Street Grid

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LSC West
• Rezone to TMX-2

• Allow up to 2000
Dwelling Units

• Local Retail

• School, Fire Station

• Civic Green

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LSC Belward:
Science & Research

• CCT Station

• New Local Streets

• Preserve Belward Farm

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LSC Belward

• Expand Farm Setting

• Buffers

• LSC Loop

• Up to 1.0 FAR

• Height: 110 ft. max

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Proposed Zoning

LSC Zone at Central

and Belward

TMX-2 on LSC West

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LSC Circulation
• Local business street network
• Key West/Sam Eig capacity
potential for 8 lanes on Key West
• Grade-separated interchanges
o Great Seneca at Muddy Branch
o Key West at Shady Grove
o Quince Orchard at Great Seneca
• Network of shared–use paths/trails
• Bicyclists in mixed traffic on local
roads

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Transit Station Commercial Densities: Central and Belward

Commercial Potential
Square feet New Jobs Years to Build-out

Total Transit Station Densities 15,000,000

Less Existing and Approved - 5,650,000

Total New Development 9,350,000 32,000 40 years

Likely New Development (75%) 7,012,500 24,000 35 years

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Staging of Commercial Development
16

CCT
operational
In millions of square feet

12

CCT
funded and
under Potential
8
construction Prior stage
Existing

0
Existing Pipeline Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

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Staging of Commercial Development in Three LSC Districts

Stage 1
• Begin operating Transportation Management District
• Create new LSC Policy Area
• Document the mode share
Stage 2
• Fully fund construction of CCT from Shady Grove to Belward
• Construct public street linking LSC Central , West, Belward
• Document mode share (goal of 5% increase over baseline).
Stage 3
• Begin operating CCT from Shady Grove to Clarksburg
• Fund interchanges and Key West widening
• Document mode share increase (15% increase)
• Fund Elementary School in MCPS Budget, if needed Gaithersburg West Master Plan
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COG Job Forecasts
Round 7.1 (1990 Master Plan)
Round 7.2 Draft (2009 Master Plan)
50,000

40,000

30,000

7.1
7.2 (draft)
20,000

10,000

0
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040

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Require Concept Plans from Major Property Owners

• In addition to normal Regulatory Requirements

• Adherence to Plan Vision to Concentrate Density at Transit

• Provide appropriate neighborhood buffers

• Help create the LSC Loop and civic open spaces

• Create local street network

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Revisit LSC Plan in Six Years

• Economic Factors

• CCT Schedule

• PSTA Relocation

• Institutions’ Investment in Plan Vision

• Infrastructure cost and delivery

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Plan Summary
• Place Density at Three CCT Stations; Limit Elsewhere
• Create Mixed Use Centers with Medical & Biotech Focus
• Require Concept Plans to Implement Plan Vision
• Phase Development & Link to Transit Funding & Operation

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Draft March 2009

Urban Design Guidelines

For the Life Sciences Center in the Gaithersburg West Master Plan

Montgomery County Planning Department

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
 Contents
COMPARISON OF PLACE

AREA WIDE GUIDELINES

FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES
CENTER
Streets
Open Space
Buildings
Environment

GUIDELINES FOR
SPECIFIC AREAS
LSC Central
LSC West (PSTA)
LSC Belward
 ComparisonContents
of Place

Bethesda 4.0 FAR*

Silver Spring 3.0 FAR*
Ballston 3.0 FAR
Rockville TC 2.5 FAR
White Flint (LCOR) 2.0 FAR*
Germantown Rockville TC 2.5 FAR
Clarendon 2.0 FAR
Washingtoni
an Shady Grove Reston TC 2.0 FAR
King Farm Twinbrook 1.9 FAR*
Rockville TC Shady Grove 1.5-2.0 FAR*
Twinbrook Germantown 1.0-2.0 FAR*
White Flint Washingtonian 1.25 FAR
King Farm 0.4 FAR

Bethesda * Not including any density bonus

(e.g. 30 percent) for MPDUs or Workforce
housing)
 Comparison of Place

CCT Transit Stations and FAR:

1. Shady Grove 1.5 - 2.0
10. 2. King Farm East 0.4
3. King Farm West 0.4
4. Crown Farm/ 0.5
9. Washingtonian/ 0.75+
5. LSC Core 1.0 - 1.5
1. 6. LSC West/PSTA 1.0
8. 1.
7. LSC/Belward 1.0
2.
3. 8. Kentlands .75- 1.5
4. 9. NIST 0.15
1.
10. Watkins Mill 0.5
7. 5.
6.

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Comparison of Place

Rockville Town Center

15 acres
632 dwelling units (42 units/acre)
1.7 million square feet
2.4 FAR
 Comparison of Place

Twinbrook
16.95 acres
1,114 dwelling units (65 units/acre)
1.3 million square feet
1.9 FAR
 Comparison of Place

Shady Grove
200 Acres
5,850 units
1.5 million sq. ft.
1.5- 2.0 FAR (Core Area)
 Comparison of Place

Germantown Town center

66 acres
1,040 dwelling units (16 units/acre)
3.09 million square feet
1.0 - 2.0 FAR
 Comparison of Place

Washingtonian/Rio
168 acres
1,450 units
4.5 million square feet
1.25 FAR
 Goals for Streets
Major Highways Variety of Streets
Transform the major highways to Create an expanded range of street
urban boulevards with street trees types for the Life Sciences Center that
and lighting within the Life Sciences satisfies a variety of functions. The
Center . streets range from the six-lane Sam
Eig Highway for through traffic to two-
lane urban streets for local traffic

Grid of Streets
Grid of Streets Intersections
Establish a grid of interconnected Create intersections with crosswalks
streets that will provide better to improve pedestrian access
connections throughout the Life without compromising safety.
Sciences Center. The grid system Require substantial streetscaping
should improve access for vehicles, with street trees, street lights, and
pedestrians, and bicyclists. street furniture to establish an urban
environment for pedestrians.

Short Blocks
Establish a system of short blocks to
expand the pedestrian access throughout
the LSC area. The short blocks will
create a foreground for street oriented
buildings
Streets
 Open Space
Stream Valleys CCT Plazas
High priority will be given to Civic greens and plazas will be located
FOR THE CORRIDOR
protecting the sensitive adjacent to the CCT stations and will
environmental features within become the focus of community
the LSC area. These parks will activity in each of the LSC districts.
be connected to the recreation
loop.

Green Buffer Public Use Space

Preserved or established Parklands, civic spaces, community
wooded areas that provide gardens provide opportunities for
forest and tree cover. These active and passive recreation, and
areas provide compatibility with public gathering spaces.
the adjacent residential
neighborhoods

Historic
FOR EACH DISTRICT Setting Linear Park
A revised environmental setting These tree-lined spaces are
is to be established for the important features along
historic Belward Farm. roadways, between groups of
New buildings will be setback buildings, and along natural
from the existing residence. areas.
Open Space
Open Space
 Buildings
Range of Building Types
Integrating the natural & built environments Function

Preservation

Base 2: Mixed-Use Tower and Base: Mixed-Use

 Transition Areas  Adjacent to the CCT Stations Connection
 Retail on the ground floor  Retail on the ground floor
 Office or residential above  Office or residential above
 2 - 4 stories  3-4 story base
 50 feet high maximum  143 feet high maximum
(LSC Central and West)
 110 feet maximum
(LSC Belward)
 Buildings
Function

Preservation

Connection
 Environment
Stream Protection Imperviousness
Tier 1 Shape development around existing Reduce the use of impervious
streams and environmental buffers. surfaces along streets by the
Key stream areas are located in all use of tree panels, and lawn
three LSC districts. areas in public open spaces.

Forestation/Tree Green Buildings

The use of solar cells,
Canopy geothermal technology, and
Maximize forest cover and green roof area are encouraged
establish tree cover in natural for sustainability.
Tier 3 areas and buffer areas. Include
closely spaced street trees along
all streets. Provide a tree canopy
within all public spaces.

Stormwater Connectivity
Green connections will link and
Management integrate the built environment
Providing creative solutions to and the natural environment.
stormwater management is a Connections should be both
priority. Stormwater management visual and functional. Providing
includes the use of green roof connections will reduce
technology. dependence on the automobile.
 Environment

Tier 3
 Specific Areas

Transit Nodes:
1. LSC Central
1
2. LSC West (PSTA)
3. LSC Belward 2
 LSC Central
Urban Design Concept:
 Medical Center Expansion
- Expanded hospital
- Centers of Excellence
 Advanced Education
(Johns Hopkins and the
Universities of Maryland)
 Center for Research
 Housing
 CCT Station
 LSC Central (Life Sciences Center)
Building Form and Character Examples

Street Trees

Streetscape
 LSC West (PSTA)
Urban Design Concept:
 Housing Resource
 Elementary School
 Fire Station
 Neighborhood Retail
 CCT Station
 LSC West (PSTA)
Building Form and Character Examples
 LSC Belward (Banks Farm)
Urban Design
Concept
 Research Center
 CCT Station
 Preservation
 Green Buffers
 Limited Retail
 LSC Belward
Building Form and Character Examples
 Gaithersburg West Master Plan

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