Wednesday night, the Planning Commission is going to review the final site plan for the Archstone project on East Diamond Ave. Included in the background documents are a ton of details, including a few more artist’s renderings, some of which I’ve pasted in below. If you’re excited about this development, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to go to the Planning Commission Meeting in City hall (Council Chambers, 7:30pm) to express your support.

Also, there’s great news regarding the proposed Enterprise Zone designation for the Olde Towne Central Business District. This effort has just made it through the latest and one of the biggest hurdles — support from the County Council. Word is that the Council voted 7-0 to support Gaithersburg’s application. This allows this application to be forwarded to the State, which will have the final say. This Enterprise Zone designation will make it easier for developers to proceed with redevelopment efforts like the one you see below; it provides for some amount of tax relief and impact fee waivers for businesses that improve their properties and/or bring in new jobs to the area. There can be at most one new Enterprise Zone in each County each year, and there was some concern that the County may want to support a renewal application for Wheaton rather than the new application for Gaithersburg. However, the Council’s unanimous support today puts that question to rest. Thank you, County Council members!

Elevation as seen from Diamond Ave; click for larger image
Building as seen from above
Center courtyard
Swimming pool in east courtyard

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Planning Commission Meeting, 3/19/2008
Posted 3/10/2008

City of Gaithersburg
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
Telephone: 301-258-6330

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA*

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
7:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

March 5, 2008, Planning Commission Meeting

Background Material (pdf format)

RECORD PLATS

CONSENT

AFP-08-007 — Frick Residence - Lakelands

MXD Zone
840 Lake Varuna Mews
2nd-Floor Addition Above Garage
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)

SITE PLAN

SP-08-0001 – Archstone at Olde Towne Gaithersburg
CBD Zone
320-408 East Diamond Avenue
Redevelopment of 7 Parcels and Public Alley

PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material I (pdf format 6.5M)
Background Material II (pdf format 9.5M)
Background Material - III Exhibit 20 (pdf format 6.6M)

FROM THE COMMISSION

FROM STAFF


ADJOURNMENT