Sketch and Preliminary plans for a high-rise development that will replace the Old Georgetown Grille, Bethesda Florist and the old Jewelry Exchange building are headed to the Montgomery County Planning Board for approval December 14, 2023 at 9:20 AM. Developer Stonebridge is proposing a 175' tall apartment tower with 240 residential units, and 6000-square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. It would provide the minimum 15% Moderately-Priced Dwelling Units required by Montgomery County, and will place loading dock and parking access on the St. Elmo Avenue side of the lot, which consists of 7749 Old Georgetown Road, 7747 Old Georgetown Road, 4934 St. Elmo Avenue and 4940 St. Elmo Avenue.
A 143-space parking garage will be located under the building, fewer spaces than the minimum ordinarily required by Montgomery County. Bicycle lanes will be placed alongside the building on St. Elmo Avenue, as recommended in the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan. Planning staff are recommending approval of the Sketch and Preliminary plans.
There's always that one property owner who refuses to sell so we all have to look at their ugly 1 story building jutting out into the middle of the otherwise expanded sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteHow do you make a comment regarding plan to have so few parking spaces?
ReplyDeleteAnd people disparage me for saying that it's getting harder and harder to see the sun in downtown with all these buildings going up on every corner. New buildings are ok but smart growth needs to be employed. The planning board green lights every project seemingly that is presented to them. And how bout that traffic? Solution? Taking away travel lanes in favor of bikes. Great!
ReplyDeleteA nice tall building will create a cool terminated vista from northbound Arlington Road and Wilson Lane at this location. Downtown Bethesda’s irregular and non-rectilinear street grid has created some very nice views for these tall new buildings.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't consideration of any new plans be deferred or put aside given that the soft cap under the Downtown Bethesda Sector Plan has already been exceeded?
ReplyDeleteThe posting says these are preliminary plans, not a more detailed proposal for a design that has already been accepted.
Who cares about the sector plan and policies that have been approved and are in place? Obviously the Planning Board doesn't ...
Hellscape.
ReplyDelete9:36: You can sign up on the Montgomery County Planning Board website to testify at the meeting on this agenda item, either in person or virtually.
ReplyDelete"The planning board green lights every project seemingly that is presented to them."
ReplyDeleteJAC is literally the only person in the world who thinks MoCo's bureaucracy moves too quickly and is too pro-business. They green light every project...after planning staff reviews and enforces literally hundreds of requirements on each project over a multi-step review process that commonly lasts YEARS. The planning board vote is simply the final stamp of approval; it's like you're complaining that everyone in a cap and gown at graduation gets a diploma. Duh, you only bother doing that if you know you've completed the requirements beforehand.
Oh, and don't hang out at the base of a high rise all day if you're trying to get a sun tan. That seems rather obvious.
Why does the planning board think we need more high rise apartment buildings when almost every existing apartment building in Bethesda has For Lease signs?
ReplyDeleteWill the market rent be affordable to the people who service Bethesda, police, fire, teachers, health workers? Will there be apartments large enough for families?
10:10 hates the idea of property owners being able to build on their own land. Government must stop them!
ReplyDeleteSomeday I would like to walk in Bethesda without having to keep crossing the street to avoid construction.
ReplyDeleteBest and most accurate comment posted on this blog. If you haven't experienced it (those developer maggots) they wouldn't understand.
DeleteHundreds of millions of dollars invested into Bethesda every year. Have to keep crossing the street. I was promised moribund, dammit!
ReplyDelete