Planning board supports rezoning for Glenmont retail, residential project

Development would bring shops, 1,550 housing units to area near Metro station; interchange seen as key to final approval

The Montgomery County Hearing Examiner will also hear the rezoning case for this project Tuesday. Final approval rests with the County Council.

At Thursday’s meeting, residents and some Planning Board members said that a proposed interchange at Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue should be completely funded and its construction should begin before the developer was allowed to continue with the second phase that would include a 1,550-unit housing complex and 90,000 square feet of commercial space.

‘‘Knowing the feelings of the community and maybe the composition of things [on the County Council] ... it’s going to be a hard road to go for the second stage without that grade separation project being funded or under construction,” Commissioner John M. Robinson said.

The Planning Board approved the project, however, because it did not conflict with the Kensington-Wheaton Master Plan, it was a desirable project for the area, and appeared to have an acceptable staging plan to address traffic concerns.

The first stage, located closer to the intersection of Layhill Road and Glenallan Avenue, would include about 24 acres and 800 units, while the second stage, located closer to Georgia Avenue, includes about 7 acres and 750 units. Many of the details discussed during the rezoning hearings Thursday centered on the trigger point to allow stage two to start.

JBG Companies said it would be willing to contribute money toward the Georgia⁄Randolph interchange before starting the second phase of the project, or build two turning lanes at the intersection to accommodate extra traffic the development would bring.

A similar agreement was reached last year between the Planning Board and a Winchester Homes’ project for the site of Indian Spring Country Club. That project is proposed to bring in more than 700 homes.

But some residents said the Indian Spring project did not fully address traffic concerns and asked the Planning Board Thursday to take existing residents into account when approving projects that would add more vehicles.

Glenmont resident Anne Ambler noted that the townhouses were proposed to have two parking spaces each when the development was only 1,500 feet from the Metro.

‘‘For townhouses, the maximum should be one car and for rental units, it’s possible to have none,” she said.

She also said adding more lanes to Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue would be a terrible idea because of the pedestrians that would have to cross about eight lanes on Georgia Avenue. She and other residents also suggested bus routes going north.

Michael McAteer, vice president of Glenmont Civic Association, said other transportation options should be considered to ensure that Glenmont stays a nice place to live.

‘‘Of course we expect development, but why must the solution cost us,” he said. ‘‘... There is this idea that just being at the Metro will solve all problems, but it doesn’t.”

He suggested to the Planning Board that a bus route could be added going north to Olney, or a light rail line established along Randolph Road.

Chairman Royce Hanson told the board to make sure it added language to the recommendation that stated that traffic issues would have to be addressed during the preliminary plan and site plan process. He said he also favored including other forms of traffic mitigation, such as the bus system.

Steve A. Robins, an attorney for the developer, said JBG was committed to doing some sort of mitigation, regardless of what happens with the project at Indian Spring.

Other community concerns focused on school overcrowding, safety near the Metro and the effect the project would have on the intersection of Layhill and Glenallan, issues that the board said would be addressed as the project moves along.

Glenmont MetroCenter

The developer of the Glenmont MetroCenter, JBG Companies, held an open house in May to gain input from the community. Residents said the project could boost the area’s image, but were concerned it would increase traffic and crime near the busy Metro area.

JBG said it would be willing to develop safety precautions, hire security and contribute money to see that an interchange at Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue is constructed before the project is completed.

The $62 million interchange would allow Georgia Avenue to run over Randolph Road. While the county has listed the project as its first priority, the State Highway Administration and the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation are still working on a memorandum regarding funding. Another mitigation option would be a southbound right-turn lane on Georgia Avenue and a northbound right-turn lane from Georgia Avenue to Randolph Road.