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At its June 9 meeting, the Greater Olney Civic Association voted to oppose the proposed First Baptist Church of Wheaton project in rural Olney.

The church wants to build a 50,000-square-foot, two-story building on a 14.3-acre property located at 3110 Emory Church Road, down the road from Oakdale Emory United Methodist Church. The building will be used as a sanctuary and for church functions.

Church leaders have filed a pre-preliminary plan with the county Planning Board.

GOCA members were concerned the project would cause an excessive amount of traffic on the rural, dead end street and that the project is not in keeping with the Olney Master Plan. They said it would create a parking lot in the middle of a residential community.

A motion to oppose the project was brought up at the May meeting, but it was tabled after GOCA decided to invite church officials to the June meeting to discuss their plans.

GOCA President Sharon Dooley said she received a written response from church officials declining to appear before GOCA at this time. After reading the letter, Dooley reintroduced the resolution, which won unanimous approval.

Earlier this spring the Southeast Rural Olney Civic Association also voted to oppose the First Baptist Church of Wheaton's project.

Construction slow at MGH

Montgomery General Hospital President Peter Monge provided a brief update on the hospital's construction projects.

It plans to build two buildings, one will be owned by Foulger Pratt and will house medical offices, the second may be owned by the hospital and will likely house outpatient services.

Monge said some changes have been made to the original plans based on comments from the adjacent homeowners' association.

"We moved the buildings more towards the thrift shop and lowered both buildings so they are closer to street level," he said.

Monge said the first building is probably two years away from completion, and the second will follow at a later time. Construction has not begun.

Marian Fathers propose building homes in Brookeville

Park and Planning representatives asked GOCA for its thoughts on a proposal by the Marian Fathers to build single-family detached and attached houses on their Brookeville property.

They presented a preliminary development proposal submitted by the Marion Fathers for the 23-acre property at 19101 Georgia Avenue in Brookeville.

The plan calls for retaining the 40-unit assisted-living facility and adding 56 houses in an even mix of attached and detached homes. The single-family houses would be built closer to Georgia Avenue and the attached houses would be built behind the assisted-living facility.

Park and Planning representatives said that the project is still under review. GOCA officers plan to submit specific concerns in writing to Park and Planning.