Revised Schedule Released for White Oak Master Plan

Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, who chairs the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee, today announced a revised schedule for  consideration of the Draft White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan. The review of the plan will begin on Tuesday, June 17, with an overview presentation from the County Planning Board to the full County Council.

The PHED Committee will tentatively hold five worksessions on the plan, with the first one now scheduled for Tuesday, July 1. 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:

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:

June 17 – Planning Board overview of the Draft 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 here.

The September 2013 Planning Board Draft of the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan can be viewed here.

The REVISED pages of the Planning Board Draft Master Plan (approved by the Board on December 19, 2013) can be viewed here.

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 here.

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