The applicants' attorney, Heather Dlhopolsky, says the delay is being sought because of the need for additional meetings with both the regulating County agencies, and community and business stakeholders in the project. Some have expressed concerns that the project in its current form provides much less green space on the public parking lot sites than the County Council and Planning Board had promised Chevy Chase residents, and have suggested that the co-op members might be able to avoid selling the market if they could receive a tax exemption similar to those provided to farmers and amusement parks previously in Maryland.
Commissioners will take up the extension request at their February 21, 2019 meeting. Planning staff is recommending approval of the extension request.
I really hope this project moves forward. I think that EYA is close to an equitable deal to allow a reasonable amount of development, while providing the required replacement of parking underground, and still preserving a nice amount of green space. As an extension of Elm Street Park, the newly added green space and plaza can really supplement the existing park with more flexible open space for special events.
ReplyDeleteNo specific amount of open space was really “promised” in the Bethesda CBD Sector Plan. It was an untested idea to add more par, but without a fully developed plan. The current proposal seems to be reasonable to me. You have to realize that if the county elected to place the parking underground, and develop a park at grade, they would still need to have at least two vehicular ramps, stairs, elevators and parking exhaust equipment, all which would consume open space. By allowing EYA to do this, all the ramps, Ventilation equipment, elevators and stairs are embedded under their buildings, and the remaining open spaces can be maximixzed.
I still really like the idea of the FWM repurposed and expanded as a programmed food hall, not unlike the Union Market. So much better than the nasty existing hodge podge of market stalls, surrounded by gravel parking lots selling starving artist black velvet Elvis paintings.
Union Market type offering well never happen. If it does, it'll fail miserably. It shouldn't be Bethesda people suck and won't support it. Yet WF locations are never empty.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see they'll eventually get rid of the Bethesda Women's Junk Market.
ReplyDelete@3:20
ReplyDeleteBULLSHIT, nice try
To 3:20 yup white rich liberals in Montgomery county hate blacks but need their votes
ReplyDeleteMy family will vote Trump
We have been on the liberal plantation too long
No more illegals
Black Power ! Candace Owens says it right BLEXIT
"all carrying diseases like mumps measles"
ReplyDeleteJust get your kids vaccinated and you won't have to worry about that, Trumptard.
@8:32AM: The terms EYA has proposed dramatically undervalue the plot of land that EYA wants in exchange for the underground parking garage.
ReplyDeleteRemember when Mexico was going to pay for the Wall? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
ReplyDelete3:27PM No se sorprenda cuando el racismo vil que está arrojando vuelve a usted y es su perdición.
Re: prior comments, just WOW.
ReplyDeleteRe: the article, the Bethesda Downtown Plan says that the parking lot is supposed to be a *destination park* because of its proximity to the Capital Crescent Trail, the new Purple Line station, and the new south Red Line station. There is no language anywhere that promises or even suggests this lot is for a Chevy Chase park.
If you want Bethesda to have free space that is easily accessible and welcoming to all the County, support the Bethesda Downtown guidelines for a decently sized park.