Upper Rock Creek Master Plan
Summary from the Upper Rock Creek Coalition Board
On February 24, the County Council held its final vote on the URC
Master Plan. Contrary to what you might have read in the Gazette on
2/25, the Upper Rock Creek Coalition board has a different analysis of
the outcome. Although we did not achieve many of our goals, the outcome
would have been decidedly worse for the environment and the community
had our voices not been so strong and unified throughout the 3+ year
process. Thank you to all who wrote letters, attended meetings/hearings
and delivered flyers. Click here for a
summary of the affects of the Council vote.
Many thanks go to Councilmember Marilyn Praisner for her undying
efforts to convince the Council to respect the wishes of the community.
She truly represented her constituents. Hers was the only dissenting
vote among the Council. Phil Andrews supported the goals of the
community and honestly voiced our concerns, but in the end voted for the
Master Plan.
The final vote does not mean that this is the end of the process,
however. Over the next 6 months, several critical events will occur
which the Upper Rock Creek Coalition (URCC) board will monitor. We will
hold a general URCC meeting with Fred Boyd this spring to receive an
update on the process and learn of any specific development plans for
the properties. Your assistance through emails and attendance at a
hearing for the Sectional Map Amendment process will be necessary to
preserve the few wins that we actually have.
There are several additional events in play that will affect our
Master Plan and quality of life in the Upper Rock Creek.
- This spring, the Council will consider a new zoning amendment to
require Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDU's) in large lot
zones. Large lot zones are those with zoning of 1 house per acre and
1 house per 2 acres. MPDU's require sewer and give a developer bonus
density (extra housing units) depending on how many MPDU's are
built.
- The Olney Master Plan is open and will likely have a County
Council Public Hearing early this fall. Estimated growth is in
excess of 20% and this could increase depending on the
recommendations of the Planning Board. Any growth in Olney has a
direct impact on roads and schools in the Upper Rock Creek.
- The Shady Grove Sector Plan is also open. There has been
discussion of 4,000 to 5,000 new homes in the current Montgomery
Service Park area. One Planning Board commissioner suggested as many
as 10,000 new units. Obviously this outcome will affect us. There
are no schools within the Shady Grove Sector Plan area. Students
attend Magruder and Gaithersburg clusters.
- The Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which is under
the County Executive's Office, is in the process of applying for a
32 acre piece of property on Bowie Mill Road between Cashell Rd. and
Gelding/Briars Rd. (This was once a school site, but was sold by
MCPS to the County in a closed door session, without public notice.
The sale was used to finance the construction of the new Forest Oaks
MS.) We understand that the intent may be to locate a large amount
of affordable housing on this site.
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