The Rockville Planning Commission will hold a work session on the draft 2024 Rockville Town Master Plan tonight, August 14, 2024, at 7:00 PM, at Rockville City Hall. Key points of discussion will be the maximum building heights to be allowed in the "core" and "edge" areas of the Town Center, the target number of housing units to be developed over the life of the plan, and the parking policies and standards for the Town Center area.
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| Area covered by the Town Center Master Plan is outlined in black |
The current draft of the plan allows buildings up to 200' tall in the core zone of the Town Center, and up to 75' in the edge zone, where the latter transitions from the urban Town Center to the single-family homes of the West End. It projects a housing goal of 2000 new units within the Town Center by 2040. During the public feedback process for the plan, several people suggested setting a housing unit target higher than 2000 units. There are currently only 608 housing units in the development pipeline for Town Center, which has led City planning staff to believe that it would not be realistic to propose a target higher than 2300 to 2500 units.
The number of units has been a hot topic of debate, as many have suggested that there are not enough people living in the Town Center to support the businesses there. Likewise, parking has been highly controversial, as many residents and business owners alike have cited parking issues as a deterrent to business in the Town Center.
Following tonight's discussion, commissioners will instruct staff to implement or report back on potential revisions to the draft plan. The commission will then review the updated draft at its September 11, 2024 meeting. If commissioners are satisfied with the draft at that time, they will have the option to vote to approve the plan, and transmit it to the Mayor and Council for their review, revision, and approval.
I'm dying for a Dawson's market update. I'd love to see a new store come in ASAP! As someone who lives in the square, it was such a great resource, albeit expensive as everyone knows. I'm really hoping we get some news before the end of the year!
ReplyDeleteAnd to this day their website is still active. Odd!
DeleteRumors are a bookstore will be taking over. Can be b&n since they are just down the street at Congressional. Busboys & Poets would do well here.
ReplyDeleteYeah rumors are so contagious and hard to cure, if you are dumb enough to fall for them.
DeleteToo little, too late. Might as well level the current area and make it a farm community
ReplyDeleteYou so funny.
DeleteIt would be a symbolic surrender to the reality that we can’t sustain or attract any meaningful commerce to RTS, nor can we effectively police it. Thus, we should capitulate to the green gen Z and give them a chance to enjoy the communal, emissions free experience they crave!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine all of the people who bought condos or rent apartments at RTC who thought they were moving into a friendly and family safe environment, only to find their community is now crime ridden and unsafe to be in?with derelict buildings everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThere is no truer comment than that one. It’s appalling and an absolute indictment of the County political leadership right around the corner from their meeting place.
ReplyDelete