Council Takes Up Plan for White Oak Science Gateway
Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, who chairs the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee, announced May 16 the tentative schedule for the PHED Committee and the full Council’s consideration of the Draft White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan. The first of six planned committee meetings is scheduled for Monday, June 16.
The full Council is tentatively scheduled to meet on the plan on July 22 and to take action on it on July 29.
The White Oak Plan provides the County Council with the opportunity to shape the long-term goals and objectives for the area that spans Hillandale, White Oak/Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Cherry Hill. When the federal government consolidated the FDA at the White Oak Federal Research Center, it created the catalyst for business opportunities related to the federal agency. The County will re-examine the master plan as a first step toward realizing those opportunities.
“There is tremendous economic development potential in the White Oak area. We are going to work as quickly as we can on this plan so that we can start bringing good jobs to that part of the County sooner rather than later,” said Councilmember Floreen.
The Planning Board’s Draft Master Plan envisions the reorientation of the area’s shopping centers from the existing auto-dependent suburban model to a mixed-use area served by transit. Residents there have expressed a desire for expanded dining and shopping opportunities and more jobs closer to home.
The PHED Committee schedule regarding the White Oak Master Plan:
June 16 – Planning Board overview of the Draft Plan
July 1 – Discussion of transportation issues
July 3 – Transportation issues, continued
July 7 – Discussion of land use issues
July 10 – Land use issues, continued
July 16 – Land use issues, continued
The full Council’s schedule regarding the White Oak Master Plan:
July 22 – Full Council worksession
July 29 – Final vote
The meetings will be held the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. They will be televised live on television or online by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The broadcast will be streamed at:
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/ondemand/index.html.
The September 2013 Planning Board Draft of the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan can be viewed at:
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/wosg/documents/PlanningBoardDraft_002.pdf.
The REVISED pages of the Planning Board Draft Master Plan (approved by the Board on December 19, 2013) can be viewed at:
The Planning Board’s proposed amendments to the 2012-2016 Subdivision Staging Policy (approved by the County Council on November 13, 2012) that support recommendations in the Draft Master Plan can be viewed at:
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