A Rockville church could be demolished to make way for 38 "two-over-two" townhome-style condominums, if approved by the Rockville Planning Commission and Mayor and Council. Developer Pulte has proposed the project for the Twinbrook Community Church property at 5906 Halpine Road. The 65,580-square-foot property currently holds a church building and a daycare center.
Pulte says that the church is going to vacate and sell the property to them because of declining attendance at worship services, and "economic forces." It is seeking to rezone the R-60 property to RMD-15 or MXD, under the Rockville 2040 master plan recommendations. A preliminary traffic study shows that the townhomes will generate 45 fewer morning automobile trips, and 40 fewer evening trips, than the current church and daycare.
The existing church architecture is quite nice, and the new use will certainly change the character of that corner, which is directly across from single-family homes. However, the church property is on other sides surrounded by multifamily developments: Kanso Twinbrook, The Alaire, and Cambridge Walk. It is less than 1000 feet from the Twinbrook Metro station. The Rockville Development Review Committee will review Pulte's application at its July 26, 2023 meeting, and the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project at a future date to be scheduled.
Two-over-two, aren't these type units commonly referred to as piggyback units? These units, when/if rezoned, would act as a transitional buffer between opposing uses, similar to the Rockville Town Center area, near the main post office, it appears to me.
ReplyDeleteRockville needs to leave stuff alone they building way to much
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