Friday, July 05, 2013

WOODMONT VIEW SITE PLAN AMENDMENT RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING BOARD STAFF FOR APPROVAL (PHOTO)

Woodmont View, a luxury residential building that - in an unusual stipulation by planners - is required to have a "quality restaurant" on premises(!!), is nearing approval of its site plan.

As I reported a while back, Duball, LLC has requested a reduction in parking spaces (from 101 to 83). Planning staff recommends they be allowed to do so, citing the proximity of the public parking garage on Woodmont Avenue to the development. Woodmont View will be located on the northwest corner of Battery Lane and Woodmont Avenue.

They also recommend the planning board allow the deletion of the rooftop pool and Jacuzzi from the site plan.

I'm not sure how the proximity to a pocket park equals aquatic facilities, but, welcome to Montgomery County planning!

A new rendering of the building was included. It continues to look pretty good, compared to some other Bethesda projects. It has a distinctive appearance, particularly the roof. That roof, and the overall elite prep school-meets-Charles Dickens facade, window design and street-level entrance will give a sense of place at the Woodmont gateway to Bethesda.

The same cannot be said for the generic 1970s hospital design of the project directly across Woodmont from it, where construction is just getting started.

Rendering courtesy: Maurice Walters, Architect

No comments: