Proposals for the abandonment of parts of Washington Grove Lane, two requests for changes to the water and sewer categories, and zoning text amendments that would increase workforce housing and clarify setback regulations for high-volume gas stations will all be reviewed by the Montgomery County Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee and Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee.
According to the press release, the Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee will discuss two requests for changes to the water and sewer categories as well as the abandonment of parts of Washington Grove Lane during its meeting on Monday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m. The Davidson Memorial Hearing Room, situated on the second floor of the Council Office Building, will host the TE Committee hearing.
The TE Committee is composed of Council President Kate Stewart, Council Member Marilyn Balcombe, and Chair Evan Glass.
To consider Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-02, Workforce Housing Development Standards, and ZTA 25-06, Vehicle Service Filling Stations, the Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee will convene at 1:30 p.m.
The PHP Committee is composed of Council Member Natali Fani-Gonz Lez, Council Vice President Will Jawando, and Chair Andrew Friedson.
Each agenda item is explained in further detail below.
Parts of Washington Grove Lane have been abandoned.
Review: The TE Committee will examine a petition for the abandonment of two sections of Gaithersburg’s Washington Grove Lane and formulate recommendations for the full Council. In favor of the proposed legacy Emory Grove redevelopment, which includes affordable housing and community revitalization initiatives to respect the area’s rich Black legacy, the Housing Opportunities Commission and the Emory Grove United Methodist Church are working together to pursue the issue.
The Council is advised by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to grant the petition subject to certain requirements. The MCDOT requirements include maintaining access and connectivity through future redevelopment, resolving title issues for non-dedicated areas through the subdivision process, and preserving public utility easements or relocating utilities at the applicant’s expense to accommodate Pepco and WSSC Water’s requests.
Change Requests for Water and Sewer Category: WSCCR 24-TRV-04A and WSCCR 25-TRV-02A Modifications to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan
Review: Two requests for category changes and modifications to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan will be examined by the TE Committee. The petitions concern two residences on Ridge Drive in the Glen Hills neighborhood that are across the street from one another. To service a proposed single-family residence, the applicant is requesting a sewage category change from S6 (private onsite systems) to S3 (public sewer service).
The first request, 24-TRV-04A, should be approved, according to the County Executive, provided that the sewer main is extended solely through the public rights-of-way. However, since this property does not border the intended sewer service envelope or any potential sewer mains, the County Executive suggests that the second request, 25-TRV-02A, be denied.
Regarding both requests, the Planning Board agrees with the County Executive’s recommendations.
Workforce Housing Development Standards, Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-02
Workforce Housing Development Standards (ZTA 25-02), which would permit additional residential building types in the R-40, R-60, R-90, and R-200 zones along certain corridors with a minimum percentage of workforce housing units, will be reviewed by the PHP Committee. The More Housing N.O.W. package includes this zoning measure.
If the R-40, R-60, R-90, and R-200 zones are also along a boulevard, downtown boulevard, town center boulevard, or controlled major highway, ZTA 25-02 would permit duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and apartment structures. The relevant corridor must also be at least 100 feet wide, have three existing vehicle lanes, and be next to the front lot line. The maximum height is forty feet, the maximum density is a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.25, and 15% of the units must be workforce housing. Additionally, ZTA 25-02 will set development criteria designed to preserve current lot coverages while permitting flexible construction.
ZTA 25-02 is primarily sponsored by Councilmembers Fani-Gonz Lez and Friedson. ZTA 25-02 is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Council President Kate Stewart, and Councilmembers Balcombe and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
Vehicle service stations, Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-06
Review: ZTA 25-06, Vehicle Service Filling Station, will be examined by the PHP Committee. By making it clear that measurements for filling stations that dispense at least 3.6 million gallons annually come from the fuel hose, ZTA 25-06 would modify the setback requirements for a filling station. It would also change the applicability of a nonconforming use to a filling station, allowing it to expand or enlarge if the nonconformance is caused by subsequent use.
Any filling station that dispenses at least 3.6 million gallons annually must be at least 500 feet away from specific residential, civic and institutional, recreational, and entertainment uses, as well as from specific environmentally sensitive locations, according to the current Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance. ZTA 25-06 would make it clear that this measurement is taken from the fuel dispenser and change the zoning rule to prevent the filling station from becoming a nonconforming use if one of the aforementioned uses or places is established within 500 feet after the station has been approved.
Council members Friedson, Jawando, and Kristin Mink are the main sponsors of ZTA 25-06.
